The Cleveland Cavaliers made history Wednesday night, securing a 131-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans to extend their season-opening winning streak to 9-0 for the first time in franchise history. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points.
Jarrett Allen delivered a strong performance in the paint, contributing 16 points along with 14 rebounds to help Cleveland control the boards. Caris LeVert also added 16 points, bringing significant energy off the bench, as the Cavaliers managed to turn an early 12-point deficit into a comfortable win by the final buzzer.
Despite the Pelicans regaining Zion Williamson, who had missed the last two games, New Orleans struggled to keep pace with Cleveland’s efficient shooting.
Williamson scored 29 points, 23 of which came in the second half after he briefly took himself out following the first 10 minutes of play.
His efforts were not enough, however, as Cleveland’s offense continued to roll, with the Cavaliers shooting 54.2% from the field, including 48.6% from three-point range.
Jose Alvarado had a standout night for New Orleans, hitting all seven of his three-point attempts and finishing with 27 points. Brandon Ingram added 20 points, but the injury-hit Pelicans were unable to match Cleveland’s scoring depth or hold off their offensive surge in the second half.
Cleveland’s bench was instrumental in maintaining their lead, contributing a total of 50 points, with key performances from Ty Jerome, who scored 11, and Sam Merrill, who added nine points on three three-pointers.
The Cavaliers’ start to the season surpasses their previous best of 8-0, set by the 1976-77 squad under then-head coach Bill Fitch.
For the Pelicans, the loss extends a challenging stretch, marking their third consecutive defeat and their sixth in the last seven games. Injuries have impacted their lineup heavily, with CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones all sidelined, leaving New Orleans shorthanded against one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
