NBA – The Cleveland Cavaliers clinch a fifteenth victory in a row!

The Cavaliers continue to make history. Winners of the Hornets last night (128-114), they now hold the second longest winning streak to start a new season: 15 in a row. Only the 2016 Warriors are better. Stephen Curry and his teammates won their first 24 matches to finally conclude the exercise with 73 successes, a record.

Two other teams also started with 15 straight wins: the 1994 Rockets and the Capitols in 1949. Like Golden State, they reached the Finals afterward. Will the Ohio franchise experience the same fate? Too hard to say today but Kenny Atkinson’s training made a strong impression on this first month of competition. She didn’t even need Donovan Mitchell to win on Sunday.

In the absence of the superstar, it was Darius Garland (25 points), Ty Jerome (24), Evan Mobley (23) and Jarrett Allen (21) who provided the scoring. The ball is moving well and the defense is in place on the Cavaliers side, a team which therefore dominates on both sides of the field. Another big test looms on the horizon with the upcoming duel against the Celtics. A first opportunity to measure themselves against their main rivals in the East.

Trailing by 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves overthrew the Suns to win at the very last second on a basket at the buzzer scored by Julius Randle (120-117). The All-Star interior, author of 35 points and 7 assists, concluded his team’s great comeback with a three-point basket after eliminating his opponent.

Behind throughout the game, Minnesota did not panic and was able to resist Devin Booker’s 44 points. The American guard posted his best performance of the season in attack. But he was often isolated in his exploits, especially in the absence of Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. The Arizona franchise won 8 of its first 9 matches with KD and lost 4 of the 5 matches played in his absence.

Clearly diminished for several days, notably due to a knee injury, Luka Doncic finally withdrew from the match against the Thunder. His teammates did the job without him. PJ Washington, who returned from the infirmary, was excellent, compiling 27 points and 17 rebounds during the Mavericks’ victory (121-119). A success which will do good for the confidence of the finalists, a little disappointing at the start of the season.

Dallas dominated in rebounds (53-29) in the absence of Chet Holmgren for Oklahoma City. The Thunder trailed by 14 points in the final minutes before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (36 points) and Jalen Williams (27) brought their team back to within 3 points. But without succeeding in getting back in front.

The Trail Blazers have been less bad than expected since the start of the season. Portland won a sixth victory (the franchise is at eight defeats) by overcoming Atlanta (114-110) in the wake of another big offensive performance from Shaedon Sharpe. After scoring 33 points against the Timberwolves, he put up 32 against the Hawks. With the added bonus of the basket for the three-point win. The young winger, often injured, asserts himself as the central piece of the new project which is being set up in Oregon.

Like the number of three-point baskets scored in James Harden’s career. He has now overtaken Ray Allen and is second in the ranking of the most prolific players behind the arc. Stephen Curry is far ahead. Harden scored 20 points and dished out 11 assists in the Clippers’ win over the Jazz last night.

Rudy Gobert did his job well by compiling 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in the victory against the Suns. In good shape during the last matches, Moussa Diabaté was limited to 12 minutes for the Hornets against the Cavaliers (2 points, 1 rebound). His teammate Tidjane Salaün did not score. If Bilal Coulibaly stood out against Detroit (15 points, 3 steals), the evening was more complicated for Alex Sarr (4 points, 1 of 7 shots, 3 rebounds, 3 assists). The Wizards have lost an eighth straight game. Three points for Rayan Rupert with Portland.

Timberwolves – Suns : 120-117
Pacers – Heat : 119-110
Cavaliers – Hornets : 128-114
Wizards – Pistons : 104-124
Grizzlies – Nuggets : 105-90
Trail Blazers – Hawks : 114-110
Knicks – Nets : 114-104
Bulls – Rockets : 107-143
Thunder – Mavericks : 119-121