The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their incredible start to the NBA season, as they extended their record to 12-0 by beating the Chicago Bulls 119-113. The Cavaliers were given a tougher fight than they may have expected, as the game was very close for numerous stretches, but the Bulls couldn't overcome the strength of Kenny Atkinson's squad.
Donovan Mitchell was absolutely phenomenal, putting up 36 points (12-26 FG), with eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists. His backcourt partner, Darius Garland, also had a good night, putting up 17 points (7-17 FG), five assists, four steals, and two rebounds. Evan Mobley helped the team on the boards, with 15 points (6-10 FG), 11 rebounds, and two assists.
The Bulls were resolute in their performances, with Zach LaVine leading the charge with 26 points (12-20 FG), six rebounds, and three assists. Nikola Vucevic continued his strong run of performances with 20 points (9-15 FG), eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. Newcomer Josh Giddey also played really well, with 18 points (7-11 FG), eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block.
Here are three keys behind the Cavaliers' gritty victory over the Bulls:
Cavaliers' Defence Forces Several Turnovers
One of the underrated features of this Cleveland Cavaliers team is their defense, and their ability to force turnovers. In tonight's game, the Cavaliers had 14 steals as a team and forced the Bulls into 20 turnovers. This ability to get the ball back in their hands allowed them to never give up control of the game for long stretches.
Garland and Mitchell alone combined for 8 of the 14 steals on the team, showcasing the strength of their backcourt's defense. Despite being two undersized guards from a traditional standpoint, Garland and Mitchell have been able to use their speed and agility to wreak havoc on opposing players.
The Cavaliers didn't just let the turnovers sit, as they were able to score 35 points off of turnovers as a team. This is a crucial stat, as it shows how clinical the Cavs can be as a team, and punish teams whenever they make a mistake.
Bench Scoring Saves Cavaliers From Defeat
Another big reason why the Cavaliers were able to win the game tonight against the Bulls was their bench. The Cavs' five bench players contributed 39 points, massively outscoring the Bulls' bench, who only had 16 points. This kind of production off the bench is why the Cavaliers have been the best team in the NBA this season.
Caris LeVert (3-7 FG), Georges Niang (5-10 FG), and Ty Jerome (5-9 FG) all contributed 12 points each, which proved to be massive in the Cavaliers' performance tonight. Dean Wade struggled to score tonight, scoring just three points on 1-3 shooting from the field and 1-2 shooting from beyond the arc.
As for the Bulls, only Ayo Dosunmu (2-8 FG) registered double-digit points off the bench, with 10 points, with 5 of those points coming from the free-throw line. The Bulls' weak bench cost them what could have been a big win for them tonight.
Donovan Mitchell Saves The Day
As mentioned before, the Cavaliers did struggle for large stretches of this game, as the Bulls looked strong. However, the big difference between the two sides tonight was Donovan Mitchell, as the former All-Star delivered a clinical performance on the offensive and defensive end.
Mitchell scored 36 points, going 12-26 from the field, 7-16 from beyond the arc, and 5-6 from the free-throw line. On top of that, his eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists also helped keep the team going. Mitchell continued his great start to the season with yet another excellent performance tonight.
For the season, Mitchell is averaging 23.7 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 0.2 blocks on 46.8% shooting from the field, 41.0% from the three-point line, and 85.4 % from the free-throw line. If he continues to perform at the level he does while the Cavaliers continue their winning ways, Mitchell would be the favorite to win the 2025 NBA MVP.
The Cavs will be hoping to carry this momentum forward into the NBA Cup, as they start their campaign off against the Philadelphia 76ers this Wednesday. Given the form that both teams are in, the Cavaliers will be confident about extending their streak to 13-0.
