Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers with a season-high 36 points, propelling them to a 119-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night and extending their unbeaten streak to 12 games.
With the win, Cleveland joins an elite group of NBA teams that have started a season with 12 consecutive victories. The Cavaliers are now one of only eight teams in NBA history to begin a season with such a streak.
Darius Garland contributed significantly to Cleveland’s victory with 17 points, while Evan Mobley added 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Garland’s layup with 24 seconds left in the game, followed by Mitchell’s successful free throws, helped the Cavaliers clinch the win.
Chicago put up a fight, with Zach LaVine scoring 26 points and Coby White and Nikola Vucevic each adding 20 points. However, the Bulls’ struggles continued as they recorded their fifth loss in six games.
Despite opening up a nine-point lead late in the third quarter, Chicago could not maintain its momentum, ultimately faltering under Cleveland’s pressure.
The Cavaliers rallied once again, similar to their comeback in Saturday’s game against Brooklyn, where they overturned a late deficit to secure a win.
Cleveland’s bench also proved instrumental in Monday’s game, with Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, and Caris LeVert each contributing 12 points, helping sustain the team’s lead in the second half.
The Bulls’ offense struggled with turnovers, committing 20 compared to Cleveland’s eight. The Cavaliers capitalized on these opportunities, adding pressure to the Bulls’ defense.
Chicago’s Lonzo Ball, currently sidelined due to a wrist injury, is making progress in his recovery and has begun light dribbling drills, a promising update for the Bulls.
Chicago’s bench also contributed, with Ayo Dosunmu scoring 10 points. However, the team struggled to contain Cleveland’s offensive firepower, which proved to be the difference in the game.
