9-0 Cavaliers battle Warriors in Kenny Atkinson reunion
Thu Nov 7 5:15pm ET
Field Level Media
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell doesn't want to see Cleveland get complacent just because of a historic start to the season.
The Cavaliers set a franchise record by opening the campaign with nine straight wins, and they don't plan on taking their foot off the gas when the visiting Golden State Warriors come to town on Friday night.
Cleveland most recently beat the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 on Wednesday night, getting a game-high-tying 29 points from Mitchell. Jarrett Allen and reserve Caris LeVert each added 16 points, with Allen also hauling in 14 rebounds.
"We're playing good basketball," Mitchell said. "We've done it in so many different ways. We've had blowouts, close games, come-from-behind wins. It's just the habits that really get me excited about what we're doing. My biggest thing is just being consistent. Let's continually be this team."
Thanks to the victory, Kenny Atkinson became the first coach in NBA history to go 9-0 through the first nine games with his new team.
"What I think about is this team and the camaraderie they have, and the chemistry we have going and how connected they are," Atkinson said. "I've been fortunate to land with a really good group, a group that's been really successful in the past."
Golden State is awfully familiar with Atkinson, who was with the Warriors from 2021-24 as an assistant coach.
A historic start is something that Golden State is no stranger to either, as the team won 24 games in a row to open the 2015-16 season.
Perfection for more than a month at the beginning of the campaign wasn't in the cards for the Warriors this time around, but they are still 7-1 through their first eight. Their latest victory was their best, a 118-112 showing against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Stephen Curry went for 27 points, seven rebounds and nine assists against the defending champions, while Andrew Wiggins and Buddy Hield chipped in 16 points apiece.
It was the third game of a five-game road trip that isn't about to get any easier for Golden State. After facing the Cavaliers, the Warriors are off to Oklahoma City for a battle with the 7-1 Thunder on Sunday.
"We haven't done anything yet," Curry said. "A good team, or a relevant team, wins the games they are supposed to win, you steal a couple on the road against good teams, you protect your home court. We've done those things so far, but we got two more games on this road trip, two tough tests.
"So I like where we're at, obviously. But (there's a) long way to go."
Golden State might be short-handed against Cleveland, as Draymond Green (knee), De'Anthony Melton (back) and Brandin Podziemski (illness) are all listed as questionable.
The Cavaliers have yet to officially release their injury report, but they are hoping to have Dean Wade back in the mix. Wade has missed the past two games because of an illness.
Cleveland beat Golden State in both of the teams' meetings last season.
- Warriors G De'Anthony Melton (knee) undergoes season-ending surgery
- Pelicans say Zion Williamson (hamstring) to miss at least two more weeks
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- Suns F Kevin Durant (ankle) out at least 1 week
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- Kevin Durant exits Suns' win with sprained ankle
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- Lakers C Jaxson Hayes (ankle) out 2-3 weeks
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- NBA roundup: Kristaps Porzingis returns as Celtics club Clippers
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (ankle) will return to action in Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia. He's back after missing Tuesday's game against the Knicks with an ankle sprain. The Georgian big man opened the month with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double against Brooklyn and has performed well since November. Last month, he averaged 9.4 points and 7.8 rebounds with 1.9 blocks. Philadelphia is tied for the second-lowest rebounding rate in the league, putting Bitadze in a solid position to produce another double-double on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play against Miami on Wednesday. The team has upgradEd Davis from probable to available. The star big man will look to produce a bounce-back performance after being limited to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting against Minnesota on Monday. It's not a good matchup for Davis, as he will go head to head against All-Defense First Team member Bam Adebayo. Last season, Davis averaged only 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds against Adebayo and the Heat.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (back) won't play in Thursday's game against the visiting Bulls. The 20-year-old has a case of lower back soreness. But the Spurs also play on Friday against Sacramento, so the team may just be playing it safe. As expected, Wembanyama has had a quality year, averaging 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals. As a result, there will be plenty of shots up for grabs, with Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, and Jeremy Sochan potentially on tap to get more scoring opportunities. Zach Collins should also slide into Wemby's spot in the rotation and is worth streaming in all fantasy formats.
According to Brooklyn Nets beat reporter Erik Slater, guard Ben Simmons (back) is available to play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Simmons sat out Monday's game against the Bulls for back-injury management. In his most recent appearance against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the veteran guard logged 12 minutes, collecting five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. However, he was held scoreless in the contest.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is available for Wednesday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. The former Phoenix Sun has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. However, his absence in Monday's loss to Chicago was only his first of the 2024-25 campaign. Johnson has also averaged a career-high 18.1 points while shooting 42.2% from deep. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) sidelined, Johnson should continue to get more scoring opportunities than usual against an Indiana team that has allowed 119.1 points per game this season, the third-worst mark in the National Basketball Association.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (back) will suit up for Wednesday's contest against the Lakers. Battling back spasms, Love sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday versus Boston. Love's contributions have been limited to 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. He only plays around 12 minutes per game, so Love remains a good per-minute performer, but the veteran doesn't have a big enough role on the team to be relevant in fantasy basketball on most nights.
Brooklyn Nets forwardDorian Finney-Smith(ankle) is unavailable for Tuesday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left ankle. The 31-year-old will miss his fourth consecutive game. This season, he has been a key rotational piece for the Nets, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 29 minutes per contest. With Finney-Smith sidelined, Jalen Wilsonis expected to remain in the starting lineup.
According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, the team isn't planning on keeping center Joel Embiid (knee) out beyond what is necessary. The 30-year-old has appeared in only four games this season. However, there hasn't been much update regarding his health, so fantasy managers remain in the dark regarding when they can expect to see him back on the court. With Andre Drummond (ankle) sidelined, Philadelphia will likely continue to rely on Guerschon Yabusele, who has averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in six starts during the 2024-25 campaign. Adem Bona should also continue to see more minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is good to go for Wednesday's clash against Atlanta. Per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Bucks head coach Doc River has confirmed Antetokounmpo will be available for the contest after the team listed him as probable on the injury report. The former MVP is coming off a 28-point performance against Detroit on Tuesday night, which included seven rebounds, eight assists, and one block in 28 minutes. Antetokounmpo didn't play his full minutes against the Pistons and, thus, should be fresh for Wednesday's contest. Last season, the Hawks had no idea what to do against Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals in the matchup.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will play against the Lakers on Wednesday. Miami gets its veteran star back after Butler sat out Monday's clash against Boston. He started to feel soreness in his right knee during Sunday's meeting with Toronto and was rested for the second night of a back-to-back. Butler's recent performances have been inconsistent, but there are two 30-point efforts among his most recent five appearances. The Lakers are ranked 24th in defensive efficiency, giving Butler another opportunity to fill it up on Wednesday.
Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic (ankle) will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's clash against the Lakers. He's missed five games with an ankle sprain and was also ruled out for Wednesday's contest on the initial injury report, but Jovic has apparently made big progress in his recovery over the last 24 hours. The 21-year-old has an inconsistent role with the Heat, averaging 18.2 minutes with eight starts in 14 appearances this season. He has notched 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (knee) will remain sidelined for a second consecutive game on Wednesday versus Detroit. This opens an opportunity for Payton Pritchard to play a major role in the contest. He finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block as Boston defeated Miami 108-89 on Monday. At the same time, Drew Peterson has been a fresh face in the Celtics rotation lately and might be looking at another opportunity to log 25-plus minutes. However, he hasn't been very impactful for Boston.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. Middleton, who is 33 years old, has yet to make his season debut, though he has been cleared for 5-on-5 scrimmaging. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return, but his next opportunity to play will be Friday against the Boston Celtics. Fantasy managers are eager for Middleton to rejoin the lineup, as he remains a valuable all-around contributor despite a slight decline in scoring. Last season, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field.
According to ESPN reporter Ohm Youngmisuk, Los Angeles Clippers guard/forwardNorman Powell(hamstring) will be unavailable Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After recently missing six games with a left hamstring strain, Powell has the night off for the second half of a back-to-back set. He scored 30 points one day ago in Tuesday's 127-105 victory over the Trail Blazers. Terance Mann(finger) andKevin Porter(back) will also be sidelined on Wednesday.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (knee) will not play on Wednesday against Detroit. He's nursing an issue with his kneecap, sitting out his first game of the season. Tatum's absence boosts the usage of the rest of the Celtics starters, with Sam Hauser and Al Horford getting a chance to play larger roles for the team. Boston remains a -12.5 favorite for the contest, meaning there should be plenty of opportunities for the entire rotation.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (rest) will sit out Wednesday's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Nembhard has recently returned from a 12-game absence, playing in back-to-back contests, including a 19-minute outing against Toronto where he tallied six points and four assists. Wednesday will serve as a rest day as the team eases him back into action. In his absence, Quenton Jackson and T.J. McConnell could see more opportunities. So far this season, Nembhard has averaged 7.9 points, 4.6 assists, 1.0 steal, and 24.4 minutes per game.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (rest) will sit out Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics after playing 14 minutes in Tuesday's contest against the Bucks, where he contributed eight points and five rebounds. The Pistons are holding him out for injury maintenance, giving Ron Holland and Simone Fontecchio a chance to see additional minutes. Thompson, in his second year, has played just five games this season, averaging 15.2 minutes and 6.0 points per game, leaving fantasy managers hopeful for improvement as he regains full health.
Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (hamstring) will remain sidelined for Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris has not played since November 25 and does not yet have a clear timetable for his return. The 30-year-old plays a minor rotational role for the Magic, averaging 16.5 minutes and 4.1 points per game this season. In his last appearance, he logged seven minutes and scored three points against Charlotte.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Philadelphia 76ers forwardPaul George (rest) will not play against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The 34-year-old posted 29 points in Tuesday's NBA Cup victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He also played 37 minutes, so the team is staying cautious by sitting him in the second game of a back-to-back. WithJoel Embiid(knee, personal) also out,Tyrese Maxeycould receive more scoring opportunities.Jared McCainmay also move back to the starting lineup and should likely see an uptick in fantasy production.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) is progressing well through rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Barring any setbacks and with a tentative timeline in place, the 24-year-old could return on December 19th versus the Houston Rockets. The Pelicans may continue to proceed cautiously and not rush Williamson back, though. However, the team is desperate for help, sitting in last place in the Western Conference, with several injured players.
