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The Cleveland Cavaliers, playing without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, achieved the second-best start to a season in NBA history on Sunday, reaching 15-0 with a 128-114 win over Charlotte.
Mitchell took the evening off to rest after averaging 24.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Cavs during his perfect run.
However, the host Cavaliers made up for his absence with a balanced attack as Darius Garland had 25 points and 12 assists, Ty Jerome contributed 24 points, Evan Mobley scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jarrett Allen contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds.
“We always have some fighting spirit in us, no matter what,” Garland said. “Everyone is ready to play. It doesn’t matter if it’s one or fifteen.”
“Everyone did their part. Everyone played a big part in this victory. That’s just us. Just a team effort.”
Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers became the sixth team in NBA history to start 14-0.
By beating the Hornets, they became just the fourth team in NBA history to open 15-0, matching the second-best start with the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets.
They now trail only the Golden State Warriors’ record 24-0 start in 2015-16.
The winning streak is already the longest in the Cavaliers’ 55-year history, surpassing three 13-win runs when LeBron James played for Cleveland.
Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball had 31 points and 12 assists in a losing effort.
In Oklahoma City, Dallas forward PJ Washington scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Mavericks over the host Thunder, 121-119.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 36 points. He made a 3-pointer, stole the ball late from Kyrie Irving and hit a free throw, but missed another and Luguentz Dort missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the win.
– Randle scores the late winner –
Minnesota’s Julius Randle sank a 25-foot 3-pointer on the final whistle to give the host Timberwolves a 120-117 victory over Phoenix.
Anthony Edwards sank two game-winning free throws with 46 seconds left, setting the stage for Randle’s dramatic game-winning shot that scored the last of his 35 points, while Edwards finished with 24.
Devin Booker led the Suns with a game-high 44 points.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham posted a triple double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to give the Pistons a 124-104 win over host Washington. Jaden Ivey had 28 points and Mailk Beasley 26 for Detroit.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, was again sidelined for personal reasons in the Nuggets’ 105-90 loss in Memphis. Jaren Jackson led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Reserve Julian Strawther led Denver with 19.
In Indianapolis, Myles Turner scored a season-high 34 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 119-110 win over Miami. Tyler Herro scored 28 points to lead the Heat.
Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe stole the ball from Atlanta’s Trae Young and sank two crucial free throws, the last of his game-high 32 points. With one second left, he sealed the host Trail Blazers’ 114:109 victory. Young led the Hawks with 29 points.
Turkish center Alperen Sengun posted a triple double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and Fred VanVleet scored 28 points to lead Houston’s 143-107 win at Chicago.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks in a 114-104 win over Brooklyn.
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