Donovan Mitchell scored 11 of his 23 points in the final three minutes, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106 and remain undefeated.
With this win, the Cavaliers improved to 13-0, becoming only the sixth team in NBA history to open a season with such a record, joining the elite ranks of teams with perfect starts.
Mitchell’s late-game heroics included three three-pointers in the final stretch, which effectively halted the 76ers’ momentum and secured Cleveland’s win.
Darius Garland led all scorers for Cleveland with 25 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 14 points and seven rebounds to Cleveland’s balanced offense.
Philadelphia’s Jared McCain put up a career-high 34 points, keeping the 76ers within striking distance despite the absence of star players Joel Embiid and Paul George.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Caleb Martin also played key roles for the 76ers, scoring 20 and 18 points, respectively, as they tried to overcome the Cavaliers’ early lead.
The Cavaliers’ defensive efforts were notable, holding Philadelphia to 32.6% shooting from three-point range, while Cleveland shot 40% from beyond the arc.
Mitchell also grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out nine assists, nearly securing a triple-double in a dominant performance that highlighted his all-around game.
The Cavaliers’ 13-game winning streak is their longest since 2017 and marks their fourth in franchise history, with three previous streaks during LeBron James’ tenure.
The Cavaliers became the first team since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors to win 13 consecutive games to start a season, with the Warriors setting a record that season by winning their first 24 games.
In addition to Mitchell and Garland, Jarrett Allen added 11 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring Cleveland’s interior presence against Philadelphia’s physical frontcourt.
