Donovan Mitchell's dominant performance in the fourth quarter propelled the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 144-126 victory over the Chicago Bulls, extending their undefeated start to 14-0, marking the longest winning streak in franchise history. Mitchell, who scored a season-high 37 points, exploded for 18 points in the final period, leading Cleveland to their historic win. His impressive shooting was highlighted by seven three-pointers out of 13 attempts, and he was instrumental in closing out the game with a late surge that helped the Cavaliers maintain control after Chicago had made several attempts to close the gap.
Mitchell’s strong offensive showing was supported by several key players. Darius Garland also had a significant impact on the game, contributing 29 points and dishing out nine assists. Jarrett Allen was another standout, scoring 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds, playing a crucial role both offensively and defensively. Caris LeVert added a solid 22 points off the bench, providing much-needed firepower in the second unit.
The Chicago Bulls, despite strong individual performances, were unable to capitalize on Cleveland’s occasional lapses. Coby White led the Bulls with 29 points, including six three-pointers out of 11 attempts. Nikola Vucevic also had a solid game, contributing 25 points and eight rebounds. However, Zach LaVine struggled, scoring only eight points on a poor 4-of-16 shooting night. Patrick Williams made his mark with a career-high nine assists and 17 points, but the Bulls were unable to match the Cavaliers’ offensive onslaught.
The game saw a fast start from Cleveland, who were red-hot in the first quarter, hitting 19 of their first 22 field goals and establishing a commanding 49-34 lead by the end of the period. Although Chicago closed the gap to just four points by halftime, thanks to Vucevic’s strong play, Cleveland regained control in the second half. In the third quarter, the Bulls briefly took a one-point lead with White's three-pointer, but Cleveland responded with a decisive run. The Cavaliers were able to seal the win in the final moments as Mitchell scored nine points in a late surge, and LeVert added eight points to ensure the victory.
Elsewhere in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a thrilling 130-126 overtime win against the Sacramento Kings, despite a record-breaking 60-point performance from De’Aaron Fox. Fox’s extraordinary scoring effort wasn’t enough to prevent the Timberwolves from snapping a three-game losing streak. Anthony Edwards scored 36 points for Minnesota, while Julius Randle's clutch tie-breaking basket in overtime sealed the win for the Timberwolves.
In another game, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the injury-ravaged Phoenix Suns 99-83. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 28 points, and the team put forth a solid defensive effort, limiting Phoenix to just under 30% shooting. The Suns, missing key players Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal due to injuries, struggled to keep pace with Oklahoma City's defensive intensity and offensive execution. Luguentz Dort was also a key contributor for the Thunder, adding 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jalen Williams chipped in with 14 points and eight boards.
