PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥� Amid the giggles and the talk of history that filled the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room, Donovan Mitchell tried to add a little perspective about the team's 13-0 start to the NBA season.
鈥淲e鈥檙e the hunted, but it鈥檚 also November,鈥� Cleveland鈥檚 star forward said after he had 23 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the on Wednesday night. 鈥淟et鈥檚 relax. You know, I鈥檓 saying its November and we鈥檙e not winning a championship right now. But these are good tests for us.鈥�
Cleveland became the first team since Golden State in 2015-16 to win 13 straight to start a season. That Warriors team holds the record for most wins to begin a season at 24 straight.
The Cavaliers are just the sixth team in NBA/BAA history to start 13-0. Four of the previous five teams went on to reach the championship round. It also tied Cleveland鈥檚 franchise record of 13 straight wins set three previous times 鈥� in 2009, 2010 and 2017 鈥� all with LeBron James.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an 82-game season and we鈥檙e only 13 games in,鈥� said guard Darius Garland, who led Cleveland with 25 points in their latest win. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of stuff that we have to clean up. But it鈥檚 a good thing that we can have these wins as well. It鈥檚 a good balance that we have right now because we know that we can get a lot better, even though we鈥檙e still undefeated.鈥�
Part of the Cavaliers' success has been based on ball movement and scoring. Six Cleveland players 鈥� Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Caris LaVert and Ty Jerome- entered play on Wednesday night averaging double figures in scoring.
鈥淲e鈥檝e all been able to play a lot of games, and you can be mentally and physically tired,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淏ut you have to be able to continue to to the little things for one another. That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 going to take on a night like tonight (to win).
鈥淵ou have to be the team that does the little things for one another through those moments and continues to make the right plays.鈥�
Wednesday night turned into more of a struggle than most expected against a short-handed Philadelphia lineup that was missing Joel Embiid (left knee injury maintenance), Paul George (left knee injury maintenance), Tyrese Maxey (right hamstring strain) and backup center Andre Drummond (illness).
It also showed how big of a burden Cleveland is carrying with its winning streak.
鈥淚f you were the Sixers coming in, you鈥檙e thinking 鈥橶e could end the streak,'鈥� Cleveland first-year coach Kenny Atkinson said. 鈥淭hat always motivates players and coaches that you know you can knock someone off their block. I know our players feel it and they鈥檝e talked about it.鈥�
Rookie first-round pick Jared McCain scored a career high 34 points and had Philadelphia within three with just over three minutes to play.
鈥淗e came out and showed that he鈥檚 got some game,鈥� Garland said. 鈥淗e is looking for a spot on that team as well. It was good, it was a good showing for all of us.鈥�
That鈥檚 when Mitchell got hot, closing the game with 11 points in the final three minutes and just missing his first career triple-double.
鈥淗e made those big step-back 3鈥檚,鈥� Atkinson said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l forgive him (for missing the triple-double).鈥�
After a day off on Thursday, Cleveland will host Chicago on Friday and Charlotte on Sunday before its ultimate litmus test 鈥� a Tuesday night game at defending NBA champion Boston.
鈥淲e have a mature group and a steady group that doesn鈥檛 get too high or too low,鈥� Atkinson said. 鈥淭hey are a humble group. I don鈥檛 know if they are reading the media quotes and I don鈥檛 think that anyone is pounding the drum or saying how great we are. Donovan is always saying that we haven鈥檛 done anything yet, so they understand what we need to do and what the next step is. And they are keeping that chip on their shoulder.鈥�
___
AP NBA:
Kevin Cooney, The Associated Press
