CLEVELAND, Ohio — After the Cavs’ 119-113 win over the Bulls at Chicago’s United Center on Monday, Cleveland became the eighth team in NBA history to start a season 12-0 or better.
It’s the best start to a season since the 2015-16 Warriors, who went 24-0. The Cavs are halfway there. Only five teams in NBA history have had a better start to a season.
The Cavs have already set a franchise record for wins to start a season, and they are one win away from tying their longest overall winning streak in team history.
Of the seven other teams that have started 12-0 or better, two of them have taken home the Larry O’Brien Trophy as NBA champions.
Here’s a tracker of teams the Cavs will try to pass as they chase the Warriors’ streak:
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green helped the Warriors get off to a 24-0 start to the 2015-16 season, where they would go on to win 73 games, setting another NBA record. The Cavs are taking each game as its own, but the looming record of 24 straight wins is in the back of their minds.Getty Images
24-0
2015-16 Golden State Warriors: With Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson leading the way, the Warriors broke records on their way to a 73-9 regular season, an NBA record for wins. Despite their dominance, they fell short in the Finals, losing to the Cavs in seven games.
After beginning the season 15-0, the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy after winning Game 7 of the NBA Finals over the New York Knicks.Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima
15-0
1948-49 Washington Capitols: Despite their remarkable start, they fell short in the Basketball Association of America Finals, losing to the Minneapolis Lakers in six games. The next year the league changed its name to the National Basketball Association.
1993-94 Houston Rockets: Led by center Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets would go on to win the NBA title, defeating the New York Knicks in seven games. Olajuwon finished the season as the league’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, and won his first NBA Finals MVP award.
Steve Nash and the Dallas Mavericks started the season 14-0, on their way to the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center.Getty Images
14-0
2002-03 Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks finished the regular season at 60-22, good for second place in the West. Led by Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, Dallas made a deep run to the Western Conference Finals, where it lost to the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs.
1957-58 Boston Celtics: The Celtics finished 49-23, and a season after winning the MVP, guard Bob Cousy was still running the show, alongside future Hall of Fame center Bill Russell in his second season in the league. The Celtics lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the Finals in six games.
The Cavs celebrate their 12th straight win as they continue to climb the ladder towards NBA history, as their start has already set their franchise record. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
12-0
2024-25 Cavs (active): The Cavs became the eighth team in NBA history to start a season 12-0 after their 119-113 win over the Bulls on Monday. They were led by star guard Donovan Mitchell, who had 36 points, passing Kyrie Irving for third most in franchise history for 30-point games (55). Mitchell, who is just three 30-point games from tying for second with World B. Free, accomplished his latest feat in 247 less games than Irving. Five of the previous seven teams to start at least 12-0 went on to reach the NBA Finals.
1996-97 Chicago Bulls: The first season of the second Michael Jordan-era three-peat was one of the most dominant stretches in league history. The Bulls beat the Utah Jazz in six games for the championship.
1982-83 Seattle SuperSonics: The Sonics would end the season 48-34, and their playoff hopes were dashed in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Next for the Cavs: Wednesday at 76ers
The Cavs travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday for their second contest of a two-game road trip.
The Cavs have just two rest advantages in their first 40 games of this season. Their match against the 76ers happens to be the first one, as Philly will be coming off of a back-to-back.
Tuesday’s matchup for Philadelphia against the New York Knicks is expected to mark the season debut of All-Star center Joel Embiid. With the 76ers being cautious with Embiid’s health, the potential for him to sit out against the Cavs will be one to keep eyes on. Embiid is coming back from what Sixers officials have deemed left knee management. He originally injured his knee last January and was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus that required surgery, but Embiid returned in time for last year’s playoffs, albeit not 100 percent while playing.
“If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs the rest of my career,” Embiid told ESPN in an interview in October.
Embiid’s return could have perhaps come sooner than Tuesday, but the 7-foot center was suspended for three games by the NBA after getting into an altercation with a local columnist in the 76ers’ locker room.
Paul George, who landed in Philadelphia this past offseason, made his debut Nov. 4 after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him at the start of the season.
Although George has been on a minutes restriction, Sixers coach Nick Nurse has been willing to ease that cap in close games. It will be interesting to see how many minutes George logs against the Cavs on Wednesday, especially on the second night of a back-to-back after a physical game against the Knicks the day before.
Upcoming schedule
Game 13, Wednesday vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center
Game 14, Friday vs. Chicago Bulls at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 15, Sunday vs. Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 16, Tuesday, Nov. 19 vs. Boston Celtics at TD Garden
Game 17, Wednesday, Nov. 20 vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 18, Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Toronto Raptors at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 19, Wednesday, Nov. 27 vs. Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 20, Friday, Nov. 29 vs. Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena
Game 21, Sunday, Dec. 1 vs. Boston Celtics at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 22, Tuesday, Dec. 3 vs. Washington Wizards at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 23, Thursday, Dec. 5 vs. Denver Nuggets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game 24, Saturday, Dec. 7 vs. Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center
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