Cavaliers improve to 12-0, best start since 2015-16 Warriors - ESPN

CHICAGO — The Cavaliers improved to 12-0 on Monday night with a 119-113 victory over the Bulls, making Cleveland the eighth team in NBA history to begin a season undefeated in its first 12 games.

Cleveland is the first team to rack up this many wins to start the season since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who went an NBA-record 24-0 to begin that campaign, which they finished 73-9, also a record.

«It's great to be part of history,» said Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, who had a season-high 36 points against Chicago. «I never want to take those things for granted along the road when we're doing it in various ways. We're doing it in ways where we are blowing out teams. We're winning from behind. We're winning close games. And it's somebody different every night leading the charge. It's always a group effort.»

The Bulls pushed the Cavaliers to a competitive game, jumping out to a first-quarter lead and staying within one point at halftime, despite 25 points from Mitchell in the first half.

Chicago took a nine-point lead in the third quarter, but Cleveland's all-bench lineup helped lead the charge back into the game. That included Ty Jerome, who finished with 12 points and six assists as the Cavs outscored the Bulls by 21 points during his 21 minutes.

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said he could tell his starters were feeling fatigued during the third period and that he turned to the bench lineup to give them a breather, which ended up fueling a run.

«He's trusting guys, one through 15,» Jerome said. «That's what a team is. Throughout the regular season, you need depth.»

Five of the previous seven teams to start at least 12-0 went on to reach the NBA Finals.

«This group is locked in,» Atkinson said. «I do think there's [been]