Cleveland Cavaliers Maintain Unbeaten Record with Last-Second Victory

Donovan Mitchell, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Utah Jazz in 2022, secured the Cavaliers’ perfect start to the NBA season with a game-winning basket scored with less than one second remaining. This dramatic play led to a 114-113 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks had appeared to be heading for a win after Damian Lillard’s jumper put them ahead with just 10 seconds left on the clock. However, Mitchell’s subsequent shot propelled the Cavs back into the lead, before Lillard’s attempted buzzer-beater ultimately missed, hitting the backboard in a thrilling conclusion. This victory places Cleveland at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with an unblemished 7-0 record, marking their strongest season opening since 1976. In contrast, the Bucks are currently second from the bottom in the conference, having suffered five defeats in six games. “That’s a big win. They played their behinds off,” stated Mitchell, who concluded the game with 30 points, four assists, and three rebounds. He added, “As a group, we just continue to fight and claw.” For the Bucks, Lillard was the leading scorer with 41 points, nine assists, and four rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 34 points and 16 rebounds. Lillard reflected on the outcome, saying, “I’ve been in the league 13 years and I’ve had my share of rough nights, ups and downs, individually and as a team. The only way to go from there is back to work and keep your mind right and try not to think about it too much.” Elsewhere in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the only other undefeated team, securing their position atop the Western Conference after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 105-92. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the scoring for the Thunder with 25 points and nine assists, as the team achieved its first 6-0 start in franchise history. Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and Chet Holmgren all reached double-digit scoring for Oklahoma City, a team that has won all six of its games by a margin of at least 12 points. In other results from the night, Nikola Jokic’s 27 points helped the Denver Nuggets achieve their first home win of the season, beating the Utah Jazz 129-103. The Jazz continue to be the only team in the NBA without a win. Additionally, the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, recorded their sixth win in seven games with a 113-103 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.