Donovan Mitchell leads the Cavaliers past the Bulls to maintain their undefeated 12-0 start

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ undefeated streak is in full swing.

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers took a fourth-quarter lead and defeated the Chicago Bulls 119-113 on Monday night at the United Center. This gave them a perfect season record of 12-0.

The Cavaliers, the last undefeated team in the NBA this season, are now just the eighth team in league history to start 12-0 or better. It’s already the best start in franchise history and the best start to a season since the Golden State Warriors opened the 2015-16 season with 24 straight wins. The Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, defeated the Warriors in that season’s NBA Finals.

Mitchell left in the first half, keeping Cleveland in lockstep with the Bulls after all five starters scored in double figures in the first 24 minutes. Mitchell had 25 points in the first half with five 3-pointers and made a wild 360-degree layup while flying down the middle of the lane midway through the second quarter.

Although the Bulls pushed ahead in the third quarter and took a nine-point lead late in the quarter after two free throws from Ayo Dosunmu, the Cavaliers went on an 11-2 run and tied the game almost immediately. The Cavs also held Chicago to just two field goals in the final six minutes of the quarter, which both Dalen Terry and Josh Giddey easily dropped. This gave Cleveland a 3-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

While the Bulls tied the game again midway through the final period on a fading midrange jump shot from Zach LaVine, the Cavaliers immediately turned the ball over. Evan Mobley threw a simple alley-oop and then Donovan Mitchell made a fast break just seconds later -Layup after a steal by Ty Jerome. That quickly turned into a 9-2 run that was enough to keep the Cavaliers ahead throughout and allow them to win by six points.

Mitchell finished the game with 36 points and eight rebounds, shooting 7 of 16 from behind the arc. Darius Garland added 17 points and five assists and Evan Mobley finished the game with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points and six rebounds. Nikola Vucevic finished the game with 20 points and eight rebounds, and Coby White added 20 points with five 3-pointers. The Bulls also had 20 turnovers as a team, which the Cavaliers converted into 35 points.

The Cavaliers next face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. A win there would be the longest winning streak in team history. While they’re sure to lose a game at some point, Mitchell and the Cavaliers look like real contenders in the Eastern Conference in the first few weeks of the season.