The Cleveland Cavaliers achieved a significant milestone by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 105-100, marking their 11th consecutive win to start the season.
Evan Mobley contributed 23 points and 16 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell added 22 points. Darius Garland’s eight points in the fourth quarter were crucial, especially his two free throws that secured a 97-96 lead for Cleveland.
Cam Johnson led Brooklyn with 23 points, and both Dennis Schröder and Cam Thomas scored 22 each. Despite trailing by 15 in the second quarter, the Nets held Cleveland to just 13 points in the third quarter. Johnson and Thomas combined for 19 points during this period, showcasing their defensive prowess.
The Cavaliers’ victory ended their streak of scoring over 110 points in each game this season. Previously, they had surpassed this mark in ten consecutive wins. This achievement was previously held by Wilt Chamberlain and the 1960-61 Philadelphia Warriors with nine games.
The Cavaliers are now two wins away from matching their franchise record of a 13-game winning streak. This record was set three times when LeBron James was part of the team, most recently from November 11 to December 6, 2017. The current streak is a testament to their strong start this season.
Kenny Atkinson, the new coach for Cleveland, faced Brooklyn for the first time since his departure from the Nets in 2020. Mobley responded well to Atkinson’s guidance by making an impressive ten out of eleven field goal attempts during the game.
Bulls Overcome Hawks
The Chicago Bulls ended their four-game losing streak with a comeback win against the Atlanta Hawks, finishing at 125-113. Trailing significantly early on, Chicago turned things around with a strong fourth-quarter performance. Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Zack LaVine and Coby White also contributed with 18 points each for Chicago. Jalen Smith’s dunk gave them their first lead at 102-101 midway through the fourth quarter. The Bulls maintained control from that point onward.
Clippers Edge Raptors
The Los Angeles Clippers narrowly defeated the Toronto Raptors with a score of 105-103, marking their fourth consecutive win. James Harden led with a double-double of 24 points and twelve rebounds. Norman Powell matched Harden’s scoring output with another solid performance.
Ivica Zubac added depth with fourteen points and twelve rebounds for Los Angeles. Despite Toronto’s late efforts to tie the game through Immanuel Quickley’s three-pointer, they couldn’t capitalize on missed free throws by Powell and Harden.
The Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley and Ochai Agbaji both scored twenty-one points each but fell short as Toronto lost seven of their last eight games. Missed opportunities under pressure sealed their fate against a resilient Clippers side.
