The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls and extend their record to 12-0

The Cleveland Cavaliers looked exhausted most of the night. But a jump off the bench gave them enough life to grab another win en route to a historic 12-0 start.

The Cavs trailed midway through the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls in a game that looked like it was going to be their undoing. As Kenny Atkinson looked for a way to rejuvenate his team, Dean Wade sat at the front of the group of five – with Ty Jerome, Georges Niang, Caris LeVert and Sam Merrill at his side. This small-ball lineup was key, fueling a 24-7 run when Cleveland needed it most.

Atkinson has been willing to adapt on the fly throughout this series. A game ago, he switched to a small-ball lineup in crunch time against the Brooklyn Nets. His ability to push the right buttons at just the right times has kept the Cavs going despite some hard-fought games.

Donovan Mitchell was electric in the first half. With 25 points in the first two quarters, he provided the necessary points lead. Mitchell finished with a team-high 36 points. But as Mitchell cooled off in the second half, the NBA’s Eastern Conference’s newest Player of the Week took over.

Darius Garland was the closer tonight. He has been one of the best clutch players in the league this season and this game was no different. Garland took it with him to Chicago and buried the dagger after cooking Nikola Vucevic in isolation.

The Cavaliers can thank every member of the roster for this perfect start. From Jerome’s incredible scoring prowess and defensive tenacity – to the versatility of the bench – to the star-studded foursome that fulfilled their potential early in the season.