{"id":105308,"date":"2022-10-23T04:26:10","date_gmt":"2022-10-23T04:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/donovan-mitchell-makes-cavaliers-history-leads-cleveland-to-first-win-of-season-128-96-over-chicago-bulls\/"},"modified":"2022-10-23T04:26:10","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T04:26:10","slug":"donovan-mitchell-makes-cavaliers-history-leads-cleveland-to-first-win-of-season-128-96-over-chicago-bulls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/donovan-mitchell-makes-cavaliers-history-leads-cleveland-to-first-win-of-season-128-96-over-chicago-bulls\/","title":{"rendered":"Donovan Mitchell makes Cavaliers history, leads Cleveland to first win of season, 128-96, over Chicago Bulls"},"content":{"rendered":"
CHICAGO — The Cleveland Cavaliers have their first win of the season. And first of the Donovan Mitchell era.<\/p>\n
Mitchell helped lead the Cavaliers to a resounding 128-96 victory over Eastern Conference rival Chicago on Saturday night — their largest margin of victory ever against the Bulls.<\/p>\n
They also spoiled the Bulls’ highly anticipated home opener, sending 21,089 Chicagoans — once on their feet and aroused for the season debut of All-Star guard Zach LaVine — out of the United Center early. Not even Bulls leading scorer DeMar DeRozan stuck around for the end, getting ejected at the 4:30 mark of the fourth quarter because of a second technical.<\/p>\n
Prior to Saturday night’s showdown, Mitchell spoke about needing to carry a bigger burden with injured star Darius Garland nursing a left eye injury back in Cleveland. That’s Mitchell’s responsibility. He it comes with being a three-time All-Star and franchise player. Last season, the Cavs couldn’t function without Garland, looking lost and lethargic, getting outscored by 9.3 points per 100 possessions with him off the floor.<\/p>\n
Not anymore. Not with Mitchell.<\/p>\n
The newbie, playing his second game since joining the Cavs in a trajectory-altering trade less than two months ago, poured in a game-high 32 points on 10 of 19 shooting and 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Showing his all-around game, which goes far beyond lethal scoring, Mitchell added nine rebounds and eight assists, falling just short of his first career triple-double.<\/p>\n
Mitchell is the first player in Cavs history to open a season with back-to-back 30-point games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m really just more happy with the fact that we got the win,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cThe first game, it looked good and felt good, but we lost. So, tonight to go out here and get the first one as a group, it was great. My teammates trust me. My coaches trust me. It just allows you to play with freedom and just do what I do and not put too much pressure on myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Mitchell also spoke early Saturday morning about how replacing Garland needed to be a group effort. As players have said over the last month, the strength of the team is the team.<\/p>\n
Mitchell got plenty of help. Some of it from unexpected sources. Six players reached double figures.<\/p>\n
Second-year forward Evan Mobley finished with 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting. Kevin Love, the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up last season, anchored the bench. Love recorded his first double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Love even drilled his first five 3-point attempts before a fourth-quarter miss ended his perfect night from deep.<\/p>\n
Cedi Osman also provided a spectacular lift, adding 15 points in 26 minutes. With Osman on the floor, Cleveland outscored Chicago by a stunning 41 points.<\/p>\n
Even backup veteran center and former Bull Robin Lopez hit double-digits, tallying 12 points on 6 of 7 shooting in 16 impactful minutes. He was awarded the team’s Junkyard Dog chain after the win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re really well-balanced and I think it’s such a luxury — and maybe one we haven’t seen before — where we can play so many different lineups and so many different ways,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cJust breeds confidence being able to play like that and knowing everybody has the best intention for the team. Guys love playing together. It’s a fun way to play basketball. The opportunity is there for everybody to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n
At one point, after trailing by double figures for most of the night, the Bulls started to mount a comeback. They cut the lead to nine at the 5:34 mark of the third quarter. It was the first time they were within single digits since early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
But Mitchell responded. Just like he has done so many times throughout his sterling career. He buried a jumper while being fouled for the old-fashioned 3-point play. Only it became a four-point play instead, with Nikola Vucevic whistled for a frustration technical foul.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying to find a way to get a bucket,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cWe got stagnant. ISO basketball. We didn’t execute our stuff. In those moments, that’s why you’re here. Just find a way to gain the momentum back on our side. Those are moments that can change a game. When they got it down to nine, just finding ways to continue to stay poised as a group. I think we all did that.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sequence allowed the stumbling Cavs to momentarily settle — and they never looked back, cruising to a statement victory over a team expected to be in the playoff mix, the place where the Cavs are trying to go this season.<\/p>\n
Garland is supposed to help them get there. Only he couldnt Saturday night because of a nasty-looking eye injury in Wednesday’s opener. Despite being helpless, Garland supported from afar, sending a series of excited tweets about the team’s performance. There was one for just about every player, including rookie Isaiah Mobley who scored his first NBA hoop — a triple late in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
Even Garland, whose left eye is essentially swollen shut, could see Cleveland’s limitless potential Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/b><\/p>\n
The Cavs will host the Washington Wizards for the home opener on Sunday night. tipoff is 7 pm<\/p>\n