Cleveland Cavaliers Rally to Beat Brooklyn Nets, Extend Winning Streak to 11-0

Cavaliers’ Dominant Season Rolls On with 11th Straight Victory

In a thrilling comeback, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their undefeated run with a 105-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, becoming just the 12th team in NBA history to start a season 11-0. Key performances by Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell, along with Darius Garland’s clutch shooting, helped Cleveland overcome a significant third-quarter deficit and keep their perfect record intact.

 

Evan Mobley led the charge for Cleveland, delivering a double-double performance with 23 points and 16 rebounds. His impressive 10-of-11 shooting was instrumental in maintaining the Cavaliers’ offensive efficiency, particularly in the final quarter. Donovan Mitchell contributed 22 points, while Darius Garland added 20, including eight crucial points in the fourth quarter that sealed the win for the Cavaliers.

Trailing by as much as 14 points late in the third quarter, the Cavaliers fought back with resilience and poise. Brooklyn led 82-68 with just 35 seconds remaining in the third, but Cleveland’s relentless effort in the final period turned the game around. Garland’s two free throws with 1:12 left in the game gave the Cavaliers a 97-96 lead, putting them ahead for good.

Brooklyn Nets’ Strong Start Falls Short

The Brooklyn Nets were led by Cam Johnson, who scored 23 points, while Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas each chipped in with 22 points. The Nets mounted their own impressive rally earlier in the game, erasing a 15-point second-quarter deficit by holding Cleveland to a season-low 13 points in the third quarter. Johnson and Thomas combined for 19 of those third-quarter points, helping Brooklyn regain control and set up a dramatic fourth quarter.

Despite their efforts, the Nets couldn’t slow down Cleveland’s league-leading offense in the final period. The Cavaliers made 14 of 18 shots in the fourth quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 37-18 to complete the comeback.

 Cavaliers Snap Historic Offensive Streak

Before this game, Cleveland had set an NBA record by scoring 110 points or more in each of their first 10 games of the season. That streak came to an end against Brooklyn, but the Cavaliers still found a way to win despite being held under their usual scoring benchmark. Previously, the 1960-61 Philadelphia Warriors, led by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain, held the record with nine consecutive games of scoring 110 or more points to start a season.

 New Cavaliers Coach Kenny Atkinson’s Revenge Game

Saturday’s game marked an emotional moment for Cleveland’s new head coach, Kenny Atkinson, as it was his first time facing the Brooklyn Nets since being dismissed as their head coach in 2020. Atkinson downplayed the significance but admitted there was “a little extra” motivation to win. The Cavaliers responded to their coach’s message, with Mobley leading the charge.

Mobley’s efficiency around the basket was a difference-maker in the game. His dunk, off an assist from Garland during Cleveland’s 10-0 run in the final minutes, was a pivotal moment in the Cavaliers’ comeback.

Brooklyn Nets Face Scheduling Challenge

The loss marked the second consecutive tough defeat for the Brooklyn Nets, who were coming off a 108-104 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics just one night earlier. The back-to-back games seemed to take a toll on the Nets, who struggled to contain Cleveland’s offense down the stretch. The Nets’ inability to close out games in crunch time is a concern moving forward, particularly against high-powered offenses like Cleveland’s.

Key Moments and Stats from the Cavaliers’ Win

• Evan Mobley: 23 points, 16 rebounds, 10-of-11 shooting from the field
• Donovan Mitchell: 22 points, 5 rebounds
• Darius Garland: 20 points, 6 assists, including eight points in the fourth quarter
• Cleveland’s Fourth Quarter: 37 points, 14-of-18 shooting
• Cleveland’s Comeback: Trailed 82-68 late in the third, finished the game on a 37-18 run
• Brooklyn’s Leading Scorers: Cam Johnson (23 points), Dennis Schroder (22 points), Cam Thomas (22 points)
• Brooklyn’s Third Quarter: Outscored Cleveland 31-13, holding them to a season-low in scoring for the quarter

Cavaliers on the Verge of Franchise History

Cleveland’s remarkable 11-0 start puts them just two wins away from matching the longest winning streak in franchise history. The Cavaliers have won 13 straight games three times, all during LeBron James’ tenure with the team, most recently from November 11 to December 6, 2017. With two more victories, this year’s Cavaliers could etch their names into the franchise record books.

The next challenge for Cleveland will be a road game against the Chicago Bulls on Monday. If they can keep up their winning ways, the Cavaliers are well on their way to a historic season.

 Brooklyn’s Road Ahead

The Nets, now 6-5 on the season, will wrap up their three-game road trip on Monday in New Orleans. After two close losses to top Eastern Conference contenders in Cleveland and Boston, Brooklyn will be looking to get back on track against the Pelicans.

For the Nets, key players like Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas will need to continue delivering strong performances, but they’ll also need more consistency from their bench and improved execution in clutch moments. While the Nets’ potential is evident, their back-to-back losses show there’s still work to be done if they hope to compete with the elite teams in the league.

With the Cavaliers showing no signs of slowing down and Brooklyn looking to rebound from consecutive losses, both teams have intriguing storylines as they continue their respective campaigns. The Cavaliers’ perfect record is still intact, while the Nets will be eager to bounce back and prove they can hang with the best in the NBA.

 

Mobley. Mitchell. Garland.@cavs trio combines for 65 points 🔥

CLE improves to 11-0 to start the season! pic.twitter.com/uNC0J355cn

— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2024