Cavaliers make NBA history by starting season 15-0

Darius Garland lit up the court with 25 points, while Ty Jerome stepped up with a career-high 24 points in place of Donovan Mitchell, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 128-114 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. This win keeps the Cavaliers unbeaten in their impressive streak.

The Cavs are the fourth team to start 15-0, joining the Golden State Warriors (2016), Houston Rockets (1994) and Washington Capitols (1949). The Warriors set the league record by winning their first 24 games on the way to a 73-9 season.

All three previous teams made the Finals that season, with the 1993-94 Rockets being the one team to win the championship.

Evan Mobley had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Jarrett Allen had 21 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland, which will play at defending champion Boston on Tuesday.

Cleveland’s perfect start sets a new standard for a franchise that has fielded quality core talent before. Yet even successful eras led by LeBron James (2003-2010; 2014-18) or Mark Price and Brad Daugherty (1986-1994) did not begin seasons this dominantly in the wins column.

Cleveland’s current group — led by three current or former All-Stars in Garland, Mitchell and Allen as well as promising fourth-year big man Evan Mobley — not only leads the league record-wise, but is also second in point differential (+12.3). When that quartet is on the floor together, the Cavs are shooting 50% overall and 42.4% from 3-point range.

Garland’s resurgence in particular has been pivotal for Cleveland’s scorching start. The former fifth overall pick struggled with injuries, as well as acclimating to star teammate Donovan Mitchell’s arrival, after initially making the All-Star team at age 22 in 2022.

This season, Garland’s numbers have skyrocketed. The 6-foot-1 guard has upped his per-game scoring (18.0 to 21.1), overall shooting (44.6% to 53.1%) and 3-point shooting (37.1% to 45.8%).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.