The Cleveland Cavaliers have made history by becoming only the eighth team in NBA history to start a season with a perfect record of 12-0. They achieved this milestone with a hard-fought 119-113 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
In a competitive game held in Chicago, the Bulls initially built a nine-point lead with just over four minutes left in the third quarter. However, the Cavaliers rallied back, finishing the quarter with a slim three-point lead as they headed into the final period.
Although the Bulls managed to even the score at 106-106, the Cavaliers surged ahead in the closing moments to secure their spot in this elite group of teams. This impressive start matches the best since the Golden State Warriors set the NBA record with a 24-0 start during their record-breaking season in 2015-16.
Statistics show that five of the last seven teams that began their seasons 12-0 reached the NBA Finals, according to ESPN. The Cavaliers’ previous record was a 9-0 start, which is already the best in their franchise’s history.
Donovan Mitchell, a star player for the Cavaliers, expressed his excitement about the achievement. “It’s great to be part of history,” he stated following the game. He noted the team’s diverse strategies in winning – from dominating opponents to staging comebacks to edging out tight finishes, highlighting that every game saw someone different stepping up to lead.
This latest victory marks the second consecutive game the Cavaliers have come from behind. Shortly before this match, they fought back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets.
Mitchell led the team with a stellar performance, scoring 36 points, including seven three-pointers, along with eight rebounds and four steals. Darius Garland contributed 17 points, while Evan Mobley had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson praised his players for their focus and determination. “This group is locked in,” he said. He acknowledged that there had been questions about the team’s capability to advance to higher levels, emphasizing that the players’ focus and attention to detail helped them achieve their perfect record.
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine was the standout performer, scoring a team-high 26 points, supported by Coby White and Nikola Vučević with 20 points each. With this win, the Cavaliers now lead the Eastern Conference, sitting at 12-0, while the Bulls fall to a record of 4-7.
