Without Evan Mobley (ill), the new hub of their attack, the Cavaliers won 144-126 against the Bulls in the NBA Cup, and Donovan Mitchell’s teammates signed their 14th victory in a row to start the season. This is the 3rd best series in history! Kenny Atkinson’s men had no time to lose as they scored 49 points in the first quarter, including 10 from Donovan Mitchell in the first three minutes. After twelve minutes, Darius Garland is already at 15 points and 6 assists, and the Cavaliers lead by 15 points. At that moment, we obviously imagine them spending a quiet evening.
Except that they will take their foot off the accelerator, or rather choose not to defend… Under the leadership of Dalen Terry and Matas Buzelis, the Bulls fight back and pass a 27-12 to go from -19 to – 4! At the break, everything almost had to be done again for Cleveland, which only led 77-73. Returning from the locker room, Jarrett Allen’s partners let Coby White take over the match. Chicago’s game is very risky, but when the passes are assured and the shots go in, it really allows us to go in front (90-89).
Kenny Atkinson’s message still doesn’t get through, and it’s Mitchell, as in the first quarter, who will sort things out. The All-Star guard scored the Cavaliers’ first nine points to attack the final quarter.
Cleveland is ahead (116-112), and as in the first quarter, Darius Garland takes over. The Bulls are on the verge of collapse, and they will really crack in the last two minutes. After a 3-pointer from Caris Levert in the corner, they conceded sixteen points in the last 120 seconds! At the finish, the gap is heavy (144-126) but Billy Donovan’s players showed interesting things.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The Cavaliers on the podium. With this 14th victory in a row, Donovan Mitchell’s teammates equal the 3rd best series in history to start the season, tied with the Celtics (1957) and the Mavericks (2002). Only the 2015 Warriors (24 straight wins) as well as the 1993 Rockets and the 1947 Capitols (15 straight wins) have done better.
– Two franchise records. The Cavaliers have never won 14 in a row in their history. Three times, during the LeBron James era, Cleveland had achieved 13 consecutive victories. Furthermore, and this is another franchise record, the Cavaliers scored 49 points in the first quarter.
– The crazy pace of the Bulls. Chicago announced the color at the start of the year: they were going to play fast, and even very fast. Coby White’s partners are first in the NBA in “pace”, and this is what allows them to sign big “runs” when the shots go in and there is attention in the passes.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
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