The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to ride high, improving to a perfect 8-0 record after narrowly defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 116-114 on Monday night. Even without injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks pushed the Cavs to their limit in a thrilling matchup at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Garland Shines in Duel with Lillard
Darius Garland led the way for Cleveland, pouring in 39 points while going toe-to-toe with Bucks star Damian Lillard down the stretch. The two point guards put on a dazzling display of shot-making, much to the delight of the raucous home crowd.
“It was amazing,” Garland said of his matchup with Lillard. “I grew up watching Dame. It was super cool playing some 1-on-1 basketball.”
Garland’s go-ahead three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining put the Cavs up 113-111, a lead they would not relinquish. His 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc proved crucial in securing the victory.
Team Effort Fueling Cavs’ Hot Start
While Garland’s individual brilliance stood out, the Cavaliers’ unblemished record has been a testament to their team-first approach. All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who recently signed a three-year contract extension, emphasized the variety of ways in which Cleveland has managed to win.
“We’ve won in so many different ways,” Mitchell noted. “That’s been more impressive to me than the eight wins, just how we’ve done it. We’ve had blowouts. We’ve had close games. We’ve come back. Every night it’s somebody new.”
First-year head coach Kenny Atkinson has not hesitated to utilize his deep bench, with 10 players seeing action against Milwaukee despite the absences of starter Dean Wade and top reserve Caris LeVert due to injuries. Even rookie Luke Travers, appearing in just his second NBA game, was called upon to contribute.
Confidence Growing with Each Victory
As the wins continue to pile up, so too does the Cavaliers’ belief in themselves and each other. Center Jarrett Allen, when asked about the team’s goals, responded with a grin, “That’s the plan,” in reference to potentially winning every game.
The 8-0 start matches the best in franchise history, tying the 1976-77 squad coached by Bill Fitch. While it remains unlikely that Cleveland will seriously threaten the NBA record of 24 straight wins to open a season, set by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, the Cavs are simply focused on enjoying the ride and staying locked in on the task at hand.
“We’re all just locked in,” Garland stated matter-of-factly.
The Cavaliers’ perfect record will be put to the test in the coming days, with tough matchups looming against conference rivals. However, if the first eight games are any indication, this Cleveland team has the talent, depth, and mentality to continue stacking victories and solidifying their status as a force to be reckoned with in the East.
