CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Cavaliers were just returning from their nine-day stretch on the West Coast when they entered Sunday's game against the Hornets.
Kenny Atkinson was candid pre-game about the uncertainty of how his team would play after the lengthy trip and quick turnaround, not to mention the Cavs' less-than-stellar past match-ups with the Hornets this season.
But – the Cavaliers continue to keep their foot in the gas at all times, taking down the Charlotte Hornets 115-105 in what could have been a ‘trap game.’
“I was worried, really worried about this game,” said Atkinson. “We all got to bed six and five-thirty in the morning, six in the morning. We got the next day but it’s not like a normal day. I was really pleased to see how they reacted.”
Cleveland is now on a 10-game win streak and hasn’t lost a game in nearly a month, when they dropped a game in Miami on Dec. 8.
Double Digits Double Figures - Not only is this Cleveland’s 10th straight win, but it’s also their 10th straight win in double digits.
Scoring isn’t just coming from the starting rotation. Sunday marked the ninth game in a row with five or more players scoring in double figures.
Garland, Mitchell, Allen, Mobley, and Niang all contributed at least 10 to their 30th win.
The Cavs rank first in the NBA in FG% (.504) and 3FG% (.406). Cleveland also ranked second in the NBA in points per game (122.7) and second in the NBA (1st in East) in point differential (+11.9).
The road to 70 - Now 30-4 on the season, the Cavaliers are on pace to finish with 70 plus wins. Only four teams in NBA history have posted a better record through 35 games than the Cavaliers.
You would think these continued wins would satisfy the team, but Darius Garland doesn’t see them as being all that meaningful and doesn’t know if they ever will be.
“I really don’t think it’ll become important to be honest with you. We’re all winners on this team,” said Garland. “We’ve all won at a pretty high level, from elementary school, AAU, to college with Ty [Jerome], and the championship with Tristan [Thompson]. So I mean, we all know what it feels like to win regular games. So our next step is to win the Eastern Conference Finals and go to the Finals.”
Atkinson alluded to the eagerness of his guys as having “appropriate fear” of what’s to come in the playoffs, not wanting a repeat of years past.
“They’ve been through some tough battles. Like Orlando and Knicks series. They know what the playoffs look like, some teams don’t,” said Atkinson. “This team’s been battle-tested in the playoffs and that’s why I think that leads to that kind of humility. They know it’s not going to be easy.”
Whether deemed important or not by the team, only eight teams in NBA history have posted a better record through 35 games than the Cavaliers.
33-2: ‘15-‘16 GSW
32-3: ‘95-‘96 CHI, ‘71-‘72 LAL, ‘66-‘67 PHI
31-4: ‘24-‘25 CLE, ‘04-‘05 PHX, ‘96-‘97 CHI, ‘80-‘81 PHI
If you break those teams down even more – Five of those teams made the Finals, four of which won it all… It seems like the Cavaliers are on the right track.
The 500 Club - Maybe unnoticed to some, but Georges Niang has been a piece of the puzzle that’s found the Cavaliers the success they have up to this point. Largely seen as a locker room guy with his veteran experience in the league, Niang proved he celebrated his 500th career game on Sunday night.
Niang’s professional career has taken him to a handful of teams, starting with the Indiana Pacers back in 2016. After a season with Indiana, he signed with the Utah Jazz where he first started playing with Donovan Mitchell. Following four seasons with the Jazz, Niang signed a two-year contract with the 76ers. The forward made his way to Cleveland in 2023, reconnecting him with his old teammate Mitchell.
The now 31-year-old finished his 500th game in double digits — scoring 10 points along with 3 assists, and two boards.
Up Next - Cavaliers are back in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse Wednesday for what’s being looked at as potentially the game of the year against Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC are coming off a huge win in Boston, defeating the reigning NBA champions 105-92 — Not to mention they’re on a 15-game hot streak.
Cleveland has yet to drop a game to a Western Conference team, while the Thunder can say the same about an Eastern Conference opponent.
The top two teams in the league will collide Wednesday night on National TV (ESPN) with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm.