Jane Njoku

The Cleveland Cavaliers made history on Wednesday, and point guard Donovan Mitchell spoke a little about the team’s 13-0 start to the year. 

“We’re the hunted, but it’s also November,” Cleveland’s star forward said after he had 23 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the Cavaliers’ 114-106 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night. “Let’s relax. You know, I’m saying it’s November and we’re not winning a championship right now. But these are good tests for us.”

The Cavaliers became the first team since Golden State in 2015-16 to win 13 straight to begin a campaign. The Warriors hold the record for most victories to start a season at 24 straight. 

They are just the sixth club in NBA/BAA history to begin 13-0. Besides the 2015-16 Warriors, the other four teams are:

• Houston Rockets (15-0) 1993-94
• Washington Capitols (15-0) 1948-49
• Dallas Mavericks (14-0) 2002-03
• Boston Celtics (14-0) 1957-58

Four of the last five clubs advanced to the championship round. It also tied with Cleveland’s franchise record of 13 straight victories set three times in – 2009, 2010, and 2017 all with LeBron James. 

“It’s an 82-game season and we’re only 13 games in,” said guard Darius Garland, who led Cleveland with 25 points in their latest win. “There’s a lot of stuff that we have to clean up. But it’s a good thing that we can have these wins as well. It’s a good balance that we have right now because we know that we can get a lot better, even though we’re still undefeated.”

Some parts of Cleveland’s success has hinged on ball movement and scoring. Garland, Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Caris LaVert, Evan Moblely, Ty Jerome- played on Wednesday night to average double figures in scoring. 

“We’ve all been able to play a lot of games, and you can be mentally and physically tired,” Mitchell said. “But you have to be able to continue to do the little things for one another. That’s what it’s going to take on a night like tonight (to win).

“You have to be the team that does the little things for one another through those moments and continues to make the right plays.”

Wednesday turned out to be a struggle for a short-handed Philadelphia lineup that played without Joel Embiid (left knee injury maintenance), Paul George (left knee injury maintenance), Tyrese Maxey (right hamstring strain), and backup center Andre Drummond (sickness). 

That game also revealed just how heavy the weight on the Cavaliers is to maintain their winning streak. 

“If you were the Sixers coming in, you’re thinking ’We could end the streak,’” Cleveland first-year coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That always motivates players and coaches that you know you can knock someone off their block. I know our players feel it and they’ve talked about it.”

Jared McCain scored a career high 34 points and had the 76ers within three with only over three minutes left.

“He came out and showed that he’s got some game,” Garland said. “He is looking for a spot on that team as well. It was good, it was a good showing for all of us.”

That’s when Mitchell got hot, closing the game with 11 points in the final three minutes and just missing his first career triple-double.

“He made those big step-back 3’s,” Atkinson said. “We’ll forgive him (for missing the triple-double).”

After a break on Thursday, Cleveland will welcome the Chicago Bulls on Friday and Charlotte Hornets on Sunday before its hardest test — a Tuesday night game with defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.

“We have a mature group and a steady group that doesn’t get too high or too low,” Atkinson said. “They are a humble group. I don’t know if they are reading the media quotes and I don’t think that anyone is pounding the drum or saying how great we are. Donovan is always saying that we haven’t 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.”