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.
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- Clippers' leading-scorer Norman Powell (hamstring) out vs. Kings
- Mavericks' Luka Doncic (wrist) out at least a week
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) is considered questionable to play against Brooklyn on Monday. After dealing with a wrist injury, White hurt his left ankle against Boston on Friday. Talen Horton-Tucker has provided excellent bench scoring for the Bulls lately and might see extra action with White unavailable on Monday. At the same time, Lonzo Ball may also play a larger role in the rotation. He logged a season-high 22 minutes on Friday night. Ball was limited to two points but handed out five assists and tallied three rebounds with two steals.
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Monday versus New Orleans. The team has listed him as probable for the game. Bogdanovic sat out Saturday's contest against Charlotte as Atlanta completed a back-to-back. The veteran scorer has returned from a hamstring injury, and the Hawks don't want to overwork him. Since his return to the lineup on Nov. 18, Bogdanovic has averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 24.3 minutes. New Orleans gives up the fifth-most bench points in the league, so Atlanta's second unit, led by Bogdanovic, looks to be set for a good night on Monday.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (Achilles) has been listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Monday's action against New Orleans. The Hawks superstar is dealing with right Achilles tendinitis but has played through the issue with no problems. Young went a bit quiet against the Hornets on Saturday but has been performing at a very high level recently and should relish the challenge of taking on former teammate Dejounte Murray in Monday's matchup.
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Kevin Huerter (ankle) will not play in Sunday's contest against San Antonio. He injured his right ankle against Portland on Friday and was previously already considered doubtful for the game. Huerter's absence should guarantee extra work for Keon Ellis and Malik Monk. The latter has far more fantasy appeal, especially as Monk is set to make his first start of the campaign. He will be looking to post a third consecutive 20-point game on Sunday.
Los Angeles Clippers point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) will sit out Sunday's tilt against Denver. He hurt his left ankle in Friday's 93-92 loss to Minnesota. Porter Jr. scored a season-high 17 points and had three steals in Friday's contest. He's carved out a decent role on the Clippers squad, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 18.7 minutes. Norman Powell's (hamstring) return will help the Clippers cope with the loss of Porter Jr.'s scoring ability on Sunday, while Bones Hyland might join the rotation.
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Norman Powell (hamstring) will return to action on Sunday against Denver. He has finally recovered from a hamstring strain, which kept Powell sidelined for six games. The 31-year-old is off to a great start to the season and has even started to sneak into All-Star conversations. Powell has averaged 23.3 points with eye-popping 48.7 percent shooting from three-point range. His return will end Amir Coffey's spell as a starter. Coffey should still play an important role in the rotation but will have far less fantasy appeal coming off the bench.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (knee) will return from a two-game absence against Dallas on Sunday. The team has upgraded him to available after initially listing Grant as questionable for the game with a left knee sprain, which has bothered him for a bit. The Trail Blazers continue to roll with a thin lineup, so Grant should get plenty of usage in the contest. However, fantasy managers shouldn't get too excited, as Grant has struggled with his shooting early in the campaign. He's only nailed 38.3 percent of his efforts from the field, averaging 16.1 points in 32.3 minutes.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (sternum) will be in the lineup on Sunday against Dallas. He's nursing a bruised sternum, but the team has upgraded Murray from probable to available. Murray has a limited role with the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds across 13.7 minutes. Dallas allows the third-fewest bench points in the league and does well on the glass, so Murray's output on Sunday might be even smaller than usual.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson (foot) will continue to sit against Portland on Sunday, missing a fourth straight game. The former All-Star is struggling to shake off a left foot injury. Luka Doncic (wrist) will be back on Sunday, but Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Dereck Lively II (knee), and Naji Marshall (illness) join Thompson on the sidelines, opening up a lot of playing time for the rest of the gang. Thompson's next chance to return comes on Tuesday versus Memphis.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) will miss Sunday's contest against Dallas. He has been available for only one of the previous five games and won't return to action on Sunday after Portland initially listed Henderson as questionable for the game. Dalano Banton will continue to benefit from Henderson's absence, though his performances are erratic, making him a risky fantasy play.
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (illness) will miss his first game of the season on Sunday versus Portland. He continues to battle an illness, which limited Marshall to 13 minutes against Utah on Saturday. Marshall had scored 20-plus points in four consecutive games before settling for only three points in Saturday's game. He's put in impressive work as Dallas has maneuvered through the absences of Luka Doncic (wrist) and Klay Thompson (foot). Doncic's return to the lineup on Sunday will negatively impact many of the Mavericks players. But Kyrie Irving (shoulder) won't feature against the Trail Blazers, meaning Quentin Grimes, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Jaden Hardy should still play significant roles in the rotation.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (wrist) will return to the lineup for Sunday's matchup against Portland. The team has upgraded Doncic from questionable to available, marking the end of a five-game absence for the Slovenian superstar. Kyrie Irving (shoulder) will exit the lineup on Sunday, meaning this should fully be the Doncic show. Only three teams have allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards than the Trail Blazers in 2024-25.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against Portland. The veteran star will sit out his second game of the season. Irving has carried a big workload lately and almost posted a 30-point double-double on Saturday versus Utah. Dallas hopes to get Luka Doncic (wrist) back on Sunday, which will be a boost for the team. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd regards him as a game-time decision. If Doncic can't return, Jaden Hardy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Quentin Grimes will carry the Mavericks backcourt.
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (back) will return to work on Sunday versus San Antonio. He's missed a couple of games due to lower back inflammation. New signing Jae Crowder made a pair of starts during DeRozan's absence and is set to land on the bench now. DeRozan's debut campaign in Sacramento has gone well, as the veteran star has averaged 22.6 points with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He went for 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal in this season's first meeting with the Spurs.
Utah Jazz forward/center Kyle Filipowski (leg) will miss a fifth consecutive game on Sunday against the Lakers. He continues to nurse a left leg injury. Filipowski had a decent run as a starter before getting sidelined and might continue to make noise once he's back. John Collins and Walker Kessler will once again do the heavy lifting on the Jazz frontcourt. The Lakers have one of the lowest rebounding rates in the league, making this a decent matchup for Utah's big men. Collins and Kessler each boast three double-doubles from their last four appearances.
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Lakers. He'll be sitting out a fourth consecutive game. Clarkson has featured just once since Nov. 19 due to a foot problem. With him unavailable, Johnny Juzang and Isaiah Collier get to play more, but neither player has been a consistent source of fantasy value. Clarkson's absence also boosts the usage of Keyonte George and Collin Sexton. Both players are looking to produce a bounce-back performance on Sunday after combining for only 18 points in Saturday's 106-94 loss to Dallas.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play on Sunday against Utah. The Lakers star has been upgraded from probable to available. Davis has enjoyed a great campaign thus far and should crush it in Sunday's matchup, as the Jazz allow the most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers. In the first head-to-head meeting of the season, Davis recorded 26 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and two steals with 66.7 percent shooting from the field.
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Cam Reddish (illness) will not suit up for Sunday's meeting with Utah. He was a late addition to the injury report with an illness and hasn't been cleared to play. Reddish has finished three consecutive games scoreless, so he shouldn't be a big loss for the Lakers. However, the 25-year-old has averaged over 20 minutes a night for the season, meaning there's going to be a nice chunk of minutes available without him on Sunday. With Austin Reaves (pelvis) and D'Angelo Russell (illness) also out, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, and Max Christie get an uptick in playing time.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell (illness) will not be available for Sunday's game against Utah. An illness has taken Russell out of the lineup for the first time this season. The former All-Star has been leading the Lakers bench in recent weeks, averaging 12.1 points in 24.6 minutes. Gabe Vincent's and Max Christie's fantasy value will receive a boost on Sunday, with the former making his first start of the campaign. It's a dream fantasy matchup for Vincent against a squad that allows the most fantasy points in the league to the point guard position this season.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (pelvis) will miss his first game of the season on Sunday against Utah. He suffered a pelvic contusion in Friday's contest versus Oklahoma City, and the team has downgraded Reaves from questionable to out. Reaves' absence opens up over 30 minutes in the rotation and a starting position, which will go to Gabe Vincent on Sunday. Vincent has been limited to 2.8 points in 16.7 minutes this season but should be a lot more productive on Sunday against the Jazz, who give up 25.0 points and a league-high 10.2 assists per 48 minutes to point guards.
