The Cavaliers become the 4th team in NBA history to start the season 15-0

On By Littum

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Charlotte Hornets.

Darius Garland scored 25 points, Ty Jerome matched his career high with 24 in place of Donovan Mitchell, and the Cleveland Cavaliers remained undefeated with a 128-114 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.

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 a league record by winning their first 24 games en route to a 73-9 season.

All three previous teams reached the Finals that season, with the 1993–94 Rockets being the only 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 featured high-quality core talent before. Yet even successful eras led by LeBron James (2003-2010; 2014-18) or Mark Price and Brad Daugherty (1986-1994) began seasons so dominant in the win 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 in record, 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 crucial to Cleveland’s fiery start. The former fifth overall pick battled injuries and adjusted to the arrival of star teammate Donovan Mitchell after originally making the All-Star team at age 22 in 2022.

This season, Garland’s numbers have skyrocketed. The 6-foot-1 guard has increased his scoring per game (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.