Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell wants to make sure Cleveland stays focused and doesn’t get complacent, despite their strong start to the season.
The Cavaliers have set a franchise record by winning their first nine games, and they are determined to keep pushing forward when the Golden State Warriors visit on Friday night.
In their most recent game, the Cavaliers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 on Wednesday. Mitchell led the team with 29 points, tying for the game-high. Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert each added 16 points, with Allen also grabbing 14 rebounds.
“We’re playing good basketball,” Mitchell said. “We’ve done it in so many different ways. We’ve had blowouts, close games, come-from-behind wins. It’s just the habits that really get me excited about what we’re doing. My biggest thing is just being consistent. Let’s continually be this team.”
Thanks to the win, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson made history by becoming the first NBA coach to start 9-0 with a new team.
“What I think about is this team and the camaraderie they have, and the chemistry we have going and how connected they are,” Atkinson said. “I’ve been fortunate to land with a really good group, a group that’s been really successful in the past.”
Golden State is very familiar with Atkinson, who served as an assistant coach for the Warriors from 2021 to 2024.
The Warriors, who are no strangers to hot starts, set a record of their own by winning 24 straight games to start the 2015-16 season. This year, Golden State’s start has been solid, though they didn’t go undefeated. They are 7-1 through their first eight games, with their most recent win being a 118-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in the win over the defending champions. Andrew Wiggins and Buddy Hield also contributed, each scoring 16 points.
This win was the third of a five-game road trip that is only going to get tougher for Golden State. After facing the Cavaliers, the Warriors will head to Oklahoma City for a matchup with the 7-1 Thunder on Sunday.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Curry said. “A good team, or a relevant team, wins the games they are supposed to win, you steal a couple on the road against good teams, you protect your home court. We’ve done those things so far, but we got two more games on this road trip, two tough tests. So I like where we’re at, obviously. But (there’s a) long way to go.”
Golden State may be missing some key players in the game against Cleveland, with Draymond Green (knee), De’Anthony Melton (back), and Brandin Podziemski (illness) all listed as questionable.
The Cavaliers have not released their official injury report yet, but they hope to have Dean Wade back in the lineup after he missed the last two games due to illness. Last season, Cleveland beat Golden State in both of their matchups.
