Cleveland visits the Celtics on Tuesday, with defending champion Boston aiming to become the first team to defeat the Cavaliers this season.
This second NBA Cup game for each team is a rematch of last season’s playoff series, which the Celtics dominated, with Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell sidelined due to injury.
The Cavaliers became the fourth team to start an NBA season with 15 straight victories when they beat Charlotte 128-114 on Sunday. They join the ranks of the Golden State Warriors (2015-16), Houston Rockets (1993-94), and Washington Capitols (1948-49) in achieving a 15-0 start. Only the 2015-16 Warriors extended their streak to 16 games, eventually going 24-0 before their first loss.
Cleveland secured their Sunday win without Mitchell, who was resting. The All-Star, who signed a massive contract in the offseason, leads the team in scoring with 24.6 points per game. Mitchell missed the final two games of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston due to a left calf strain, during which the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers in five games.
Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade both sustained ankle injuries during the second half of Sunday’s win. Cleveland is averaging a league-high 123.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Boston allowed a season-high 76 points in the paint during their 126-123 overtime victory against Toronto on Saturday.
Cleveland defeated Chicago 144-126 in their first NBA Cup game on Friday, while Boston opened NBA Cup play with a 117-116 loss to Atlanta on Nov. 12.
Jrue Holiday missed Saturday’s victory over Toronto with a knee injury, but Coach Mazzulla expects him to play against Cleveland. Saturday marked the first time Holiday has not played in a game this season.
