PHILADELPHIA — The Cleveland Cavaliers made history Wednesday night, extending their season-opening winning streak to 13 games with a hard-fought 114-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. With the win, the Cavs became the sixth team in NBA history to start a season 13-0, joining an exclusive group that includes some of the league’s greatest teams.
Donovan Mitchell starred in the final minutes, scoring 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to help secure the win. Despite facing a 76ers squad missing three key players—Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid—Cleveland had to fight for the win. The 76ers, already struggling with a 2-10 record, were further depleted as backup center Andre Drummond was ruled out due to illness before the game.
"We're just sticking together," said Darius Garland, who led Cleveland with 25 points. "We're taking it game by game. We know we’ve got a target on our back, so we come in with that aggressiveness and confidence that we’re going to win every game, and that’s what we’ve been doing. Long nights, not a lot of sleep, but we stay together and continue to be great."
Historically, four of the previous five teams to start 13-0 reached the NBA Finals, with the 1993-94 Houston Rockets being the only team to win the championship, according to ESPN research.
Mitchell's Self-Criticism
Despite his clutch performance, Mitchell was quick to criticize himself for passing up an open dunk late in the game while chasing a triple-double. "It was a selfish moment," Mitchell admitted with a smile. "That’s out of character for me, and that’s why I didn’t get it. You don’t get rewarded for not being yourself."
Mitchell’s moment of self-reflection came after a solid stretch of play that helped the Cavs hold off a determined Philadelphia team. The 76ers were competitive throughout, largely due to the stellar performance of rookie Jared McCain, who scored a career-high 34 points in his first career start.
Cavs’ Struggles Against Undermanned 76ers
Though Cleveland ultimately prevailed, it wasn't without some struggle. Philadelphia's injury-riddled roster put up a strong fight, even though they were missing multiple All-Stars. The 76ers’ starting lineup featured Guerschon Yabusele, a 6-foot-7 forward, at center, alongside rookie Adem Bona. However, Cleveland's superior talent—led by their dynamic frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen—proved decisive in the second half.
The Cavaliers started the third quarter with a 12-5 run to reclaim the lead, and although the 76ers kept it close, Cleveland maintained a steady lead throughout the final period.
"We had an honest talk at halftime," said Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson. "We showed some clips. Our energy was low, and our physicality wasn’t where it needed to be. But we’re a winning group, and we turned it up again."
Room for Improvement
Despite their unbeaten record, the Cavaliers have faced challenges in recent games, including narrow victories over teams like the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets. Coach Atkinson acknowledged that while winning is important, there's still plenty to improve upon as the season progresses.
The Cavs’ current six-game lead in the Eastern Conference is a testament to their early-season dominance, and they will face a significant test next week when they play the Boston Celtics, who are also near the top of the standings. Cleveland’s 13-0 start is impressive, but Mitchell, ever the competitor, remains focused on the long-term goal.
"It’s November," Mitchell said. "We’re not winning a championship right now, but these are good tests. You want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, and we’re getting that every night. But we’re still building, still hunting."
With their 13-0 start, the Cavaliers are proving they belong among the NBA's elite—though Mitchell and his teammates know there’s still a long road ahead before they can claim a championship.
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