The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a historic 9-0 start with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans

CNN
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The Cleveland Cavaliers posted the best start to a season in franchise history on Wednesday night with a 131-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points while Jarrett Allen contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans as Kenny Atkinson’s team did what no other Cavaliers team has accomplished since Cleveland joined the NBA for the 1970-71 season.

Wednesday’s win means the Cavs have surpassed the 8-0 start of the franchise’s 1976-77 team. Cleveland finished 43–39 that season before losing to the Washington Bullets in the first round of the playoffs.

It also means that Atkinson has become one first NBA head coach ever to win the first nine games with a new team, according to Cavs.

The 57-year-old finished with a winning record in just one of his four seasons in charge of the Brooklyn Nets before spending the last four years as an assistant coach, first with the Los Angeles Clippers and then the Golden State Warriors.

“You should,” Atkinson said, per NBA.comwhen asked if his team would enjoy the moment. “This season is so long. It’s so hard to win in this league. So when you have moments like that, you have to celebrate a little bit.”

Mitchell, an NBA All-Star in each of the past five seasons, was as positive as his coach. “It’s just the habits that really get me excited about what we’re doing,” he told NBA.com. “My biggest thing is just being consistent. Let’s be this team all the time.”

Team was the operative word for the Cavaliers on Wednesday as their reserves contributed 50 points and only one of their five starters did not score 14 or more.

“Everybody contributes,” Atkinson said. “That’s what good teams do. We’re in a good place physically. We’re good mentally.

“When you win nine in a row, it’s not one or two guys; that’s the whole list.”

The Pelicans turned in a spirited performance, with Zion Williamson scoring 29 points in his return from injury and Jose Alvarado scoring 27, including all seven of his three-point attempts.

New Orleans matched Cleveland all the way in the first half, which ended 59-59, but a 16-4 run by the Cavaliers early in the third quarter put the visiting team in command.

The Pelicans battled back with seven before two three-pointers from Darius Garland and one from Sam Merrill helped the Cavs to a 99-88 lead at the end of the third quarter.

New Orleans struck back again, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 112-106 midway through the fourth quarter, but back-to-back baskets from Mitchell and Allen ensured the Pelicans would never get closer than six the rest of the game.

The Cavaliers will hope to extend their run to double figures on Friday against the Warriors, who hold the all-time NBA record for best start to a season, having won each of their first 24 games in 2015-16.