The Cavaliers put away the Bulls on Monday night, registering their 12th consecutive win to start the 2024-25 NBA season. The 12-0 run is tied for the sixth-best start in NBA history with the 1996-97 Bulls and the 1982-83 Sonics.
If Kenny Atkinson and Co. can win their next two games against the 76ers (Wednesday) and Bulls (Friday), they will tie the 2002-03 Mavericks and the 1957-58 Celtics for the fourth-best start in NBA history. Both those teams started 14-0.
Next on the list would be the 1993-94 Rockets and 1948-49 Capitols, both of whom started 15-0, tied for the second-best start in NBA history. The Cavs can reach this mark with a win over the Hornets on Sunday, provided they beat the Sixers and Bulls beforehand.
If the Cavaliers improve to 15-0 by Sunday, they will officially hold the record for the second-best start in NBA history, only trailing the 2015-16 Warriors, who started 24-0 en route to a record 73-9 finish.
Despite leading the Cavs to the best start in franchise history, Donovan Mitchell has cautioned his teammates against complacency. After Monday’s win, Mitchell said he was more concerned about the team rounding off into form closer to the playoffs.
“It’s great. We’re playing well, vibes are good, but we have to continue to be this team,” Mitchell said, via ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “And that’s been my message to the guys in the locker room. This is great. We’re going to get teams’ best shots. We’re going to get tested early, but are we going to continue? And I never —no doubt we will — but that’s been my thing. Are we going to continue to be this team January, February, March, April? I think the guys all feel it, but it’s great to enjoy these moments too while you’re still having a humble approach to it.”
Even if the Cavs’ winning streak snaps against the Sixers on Wednesday, they will have the distinction of having the third-best start by any team in the 21st century and the best start of the decade.
Furthermore, a 12-0 start gives them excellent odds to make the NBA Finals or at least the conference finals. Of the seven previous teams to start 12-0, five reached the NBA Finals, one lost in the conference finals and the other (82-83 Sonics) lost in the first round. Essentially, six of those seven teams made deep playoff runs.
