Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points to lead the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers in a thrilling 119-113 comeback win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday, keeping their unbeaten record intact at 12-0 to start the season. Already riding high off a 14-point comeback win over Brooklyn, Cleveland again trailed on the road, coming back from as many as nine points late in the third quarter.
Mitchell paced Cleveland’s inspired attack with 17 points from Darius Garland and 15 from Evan Mobley. Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and Ty Jerome chipped in with 12 apiece off the bench for the Cavs as they kept pushing up the Bulls.
The Chicago was leading 85-76 with just over four minutes left in the third, looking to snap Cleveland’s streak. But the Cavaliers answered with a pivotal 9-0 run to tie it, then pulled away to take a three-point lead into the fourth. The Cleveland hung tough in the final quarter, edging Chicago 24-21 to get its latest win.
Zach LaVine paced Chicago’s scorers with 26 points, while Coby White and Nikola Vucevic scored 20 each. The now-4-7 Bulls couldn’t sustain a third-quarter advantage and were ultimately unable to catch a hot-shooting Cleveland down the stretch.
Mitchell praised the team effort, more so the bench players. “Honestly, the bench saved us tonight,” Mitchell said. “The starters were getting a little tired. But we battled through and it is just a team effort. It is always somebody different every night.
Elsewhere, sensational San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama starred with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists as the Spurs surged to a commanding 116-96 win over the Sacramento Kings. Up by just a point after a tight first quarter, San Antonio raced away in the second off a 38-point effort, making seven three-pointers, before comfortably holding on for the win.
Elsewhere, Oklahoma City Thunder came back stronger from their previous loss and outplayed LA Clippers 134-128, spurred by a 45-point outburst from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Brooklyn Nets outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105, and the Houston Rockets steamed past the Washington Wizards 107-92 to complete Monday’s NBA action.
