Cavs Continue Unbeaten Streak, Outpace Warriors 136-117, Achieve Second NBA 10-0 Start in Two Decades
The Cleveland Cavaliers extend their unbeaten streak to 10-0, defeating the Warriors with an outstanding performance. Their early lead and first-half dominance propelled them to a franchise-best start, joining a select group of teams in NBA history.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made history on Friday night with an emphatic 136-117 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, extending their unbeaten start to 10-0. This makes Cleveland only the second NBA team in 20 years to start a season 10-0, joining the ranks of the 2015-16 Warriors, who had a historic 24-0 start before finishing with a record-breaking 73-9 season.
Golden State came into the game boasting an impressive 7-1 record but was quickly outmatched. Cleveland opened the game with a dominant 20-2 run and finished the first quarter leading 39-22. By halftime, the Cavaliers held a remarkable 83-42 lead, marking the highest first-half points in franchise history. Cleveland shot a blistering 65% from the field and connected on 64% of their three-pointers (14-of-22) by the end of the first half.
Darius Garland led the Cavs with 27 points, shooting 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, along with six assists. Evan Mobley contributed 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Ty Jerome added 20 points off the bench, hitting all three of his three-pointers, while Isaac Okoro chipped in with 16 points, hitting 4-of-6 from deep.
While the Warriors managed to outscore the Cavaliers 75-53 in the second half, the early deficit proved insurmountable. Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 21 points, while Brandin Podziemski added 14. Stephen Curry scored a season-low 12 points.
After the Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent loss to the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland remains the NBA’s last undefeated team this season. Their 10-0 start makes them the fourth NBA team since 2000 to begin the season undefeated, joining the 2000-01 Philadelphia 76ers, 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks, and the 2015-16 Warriors.
The Cavaliers had already set a franchise record with an 8-0 start, and first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson became the only coach in NBA history to begin his tenure with a team 9-0. Cleveland will look to continue their remarkable run as they host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, aiming to push their record to 11-0.