The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a remarkable phenomenon in the NBA this year, with an astonishing performance that has left many in awe. Despite not making any significant additions last summer, they have managed to unleash an incredible energy this season. With the season now halfway through, their record is truly impressive, leaving them far ahead of the competition. Currently, the Cavaliers boast a record of 33 wins and 4 losses, with a win rate of 89%, which is almost on par with the Golden State Warriors' historic 73 wins and 9 losses in 2016. Some are saying that this year's Cavaliers could potentially replicate or even surpass the Warriors' feat from 2016, having lost only four games so far.
Curious fans might wonder who the Cavaliers lost to in these four games. Let's take a closer look. First, the Cavaliers suffered their first loss against the Boston Celtics, a strong competitor in the East. On November 20th of last year, the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 120-117, ending the Cavaliers' 15-game winning streak at the start of the season. This game was part of the NBA Cup, during which Jayson Tatum scored 33 points for the Celtics, Jaylen Brown had 17 points, Derrick White contributed 19 points, and Al Horford added 22 points. For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points, Evan Mobley had 22 points, but Darius Garland struggled, shooting 3 for 21 and scoring only 8 points, which proved to be the decisive factor in their defeat.
The second loss came at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. On November 28th, the Hawks pulled off a surprising 135-124 victory over the Cavaliers. In this game, Trae Young led the Hawks with 20 points and 22 assists, while De'Andre Hunter scored 26 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 points. The Cavaliers had Mitchell scoring 30 points, Mobley with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Garland with 19 points, and Jarrett Allen with 17 points. Young's exceptional playmaking, with 22 assists, set a new single-game assist record for the season.
The third loss was even more surprising, as it was again against the Hawks, and it happened in a back-to-back scenario. On October 30th, the Hawks defeated the Cavaliers 117-101, also part of the NBA Cup. This loss eliminated the Cavaliers from the NBA Cup. In this game, Young scored 21 points and 11 assists, Hunter had 23 points, and John Collins contributed 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. For the Cavaliers, Garland scored 29 points, Mobley had 24 points, but Mitchell struggled, shooting 5 for 23 and scoring only 12 points, with a cold 2 for 10 from three-point range. This loss marked the Cavaliers' first losing streak of the season, which was also their only one, and it was against the same opponent.
The fourth loss came against the Miami Heat on December 9th, with the Heat winning 122-113. In this game, Tyler Herro scored 34 points for the Heat, Duncan Robinson had 23 points, Jimmy Butler contributed 18 points, and Bam Adebayo added 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavaliers had Garland scoring 23 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Niang with 15 points, Jerome with 14 points, LeVert with 13 points, Wade with 11 points, and Merrill with 10 points. However, Mitchell's poor shooting, with only 5 out of 16 attempts, resulted in just 12 points.
With a record of 33 wins and 4 losses, who did the Cavaliers lose to? A weak team surprisingly defeated them twice! Overall, the Cavaliers' record this season has been very impressive. Their last loss was over a month ago, showing just how dominant they have been. They are currently on a 12-game winning streak and have just ended the Oklahoma City Thunder's 15-game winning streak, which is truly unbelievable. Additionally, the Cavaliers have yet to lose to any Western Conference teams this season, earning them the title of "undefeated in the East." Honestly, if they continue to play like this, the Cavaliers could potentially emerge as dark horses and win the championship, replicating the Detroit Pistons' championship run in 2004 with a team of underdogs.
