The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 on Wednesday night to start the season 9-0 for the first time in their 55-year NBA history.
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen each added 16 points, and Allen grabbed 14 rebounds as the Cavaliers surpassed an 8-0 start by the 1976-77 squad that finished 43-39 under coach Bill Fitch.
Zion Williamson returned from a two-game absence and had 29 points for the Pelicans who couldn’t hang on to the free-scoring Cavs, who celebrated their start by pouring water bottles over coach Kenny Atkinson’s head in the locker room.
We're rollin'. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/VbC5NBOrnd
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 7, 2024
Atkinson, who also became the first NBA coach to win his first nine games with a new team, said: “This season’s so long. It’s so hard to win in this league. So, when you do have moments like this, you have to celebrate a little.
“When you win nine in a row, it’s not one or two guys; it’s the whole roster.”
“We’re playing good basketball,” said All-Star guard Mitchell. “We’ve done it in so many different ways. We’ve had blowouts, close games, come-from-behind wins.
“It’s just the habits that really get me excited about what we’re doing. My biggest thing is just being consistent. Let’s continually be this team.”
Cleveland next play at home on Friday night against the Golden State Warriors, who set the NBA record for the best start to a season by winning their first 24 games during the 2015-16 campaign.
