CHICAGO – Donovan Mitchell launched a deep 3-pointer that bounced hard off the back rim and ricocheted high into the air. Evan Mobley overpowered a boxout and grabbed the ball out of the air, securing the Cleveland Cavaliers another second chance against the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

As he took control, Mobley fired a pass back to Mitchell, the man with the hot hand. Of course, Mitchell knew exactly what to do.

With a running start and a clear path from the half, Mitchell caught the ball at the free throw line. Without crushing a dribble, he planted a powerful gathering step and fled. Bulls sophomore forward Julian Phillips boldly stepped forward, the only soul brave enough to stand between Mitchell and the attack he was about to unleash at the rim. Phillips established a good position. But in midair, Mitchell hit the proverbial circle button. Using a 360-degree spin, Mitchell eluded the defender, avoided an offensive foul and scored a nifty right-handed layup four minutes into the second quarter.

They capped Mitchell’s season-high 36 points in the Cavs’ 119-113 road win. And as the highlight play dazzled the United Center crowd, Mitchell was left wanting more.

here’s another pov of Spida’s Spin to keep you busy during the half. 🫡 @spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/ZTvlwjqJmH

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 12, 2024

“I mean, I wanted to dunk it,” Mitchell said, laughing. “But he stepped up and I just played.”

Led by Mitchell, who scored 25 points in the first half, the Cavs outlasted a fast and nasty Bulls team and extended their undefeated streak to 12 games. Cleveland became just the eighth team in NBA history to start a season 12-0.

“Great condition. I didn’t know that,” first-year Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We’re going to celebrate that. When you’ve been in the league for 17 years, you have good starts and bad starts. But to have such a great start is unique and something to celebrate.”

With each win, the Cavs become a bigger target around the league. They already expect the best from every opponent, knowing they all hope to be the team that stops the NBA’s only undefeated team. That’s why, after playing their third game in four nights, Mitchell said Monday’s win required “grit, determination and fortitude.” Atkinson even admitted that the Cavs looked like a tired group.

But these are the challenges the Cavs also understand they must face and figure out if they can finally break into the Eastern Conference. Atkinson said he sees a determined roster ready to prove itself as a legitimate championship contender.

Donovan Mitchell on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 12-0 start:

“We do it in different ways. We do it in a way where we blow teams out. We win from behind. We win close games. And every night it’s someone different.” pic.twitter.com/iz1eLxcbKK

— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) November 12, 2024

“I think this group is locked in,” Atkinson said. “I do think there are questions about this group, whether they can get to the next level. Can they take the next step? So I think if you have that chip, you can concentrate even more.”

Mitchell’s scoring brilliance got them early against the Bulls. He attempted half of Cleveland’s first 16 shots and buried five of his seven made 3s in the first half.

“For me, it’s about balancing that: picking my spots, picking my games, empowering everyone,” Mitchell said. “But sometimes you gotta do what I’m paid to do.”

But when the Bulls turned a 10-point Cavs lead in the first half into a nine-point deficit that seemed on the verge of spiraling out of control in the third quarter, the Cavs’ bench, rather than the stars, recovered of the team, the order.

“They came in and really changed the game,” Mitchell said.

Cleveland had a 39-16 bench scoring advantage. Ty Jerome, Caris LeVert and Georges Niang each scored 12 points, while Dean Wade added three. Jerome helped change the complexion of the game with his energy, defense, playmaking and scoring. He was a game-high plus-21 in as many minutes. Atkinson turned the momentum around when he went small and put Wade ahead of Mobley at the five. Suddenly, the Cavs found the right group to keep pace with the Bulls, who shot 58.1 percent in the first half and trailed by just one point at halftime.

“We were just looking,” Atkinson said. “We were looking for something that would give us a spark.”

Cleveland’s reserves ended the third quarter on a 19-7 run. The team’s camaraderie was evident throughout the game in the way the Cavs shared the ball and committed to making extra passes. But a show of how much they enjoy competing with each other during this torrid start came when Jerome put Bulls guard Josh Giddey in a blender with a series of six dribbles that he capped off with a floater. The basket extended the Cavs’ spurt to 19-4 and gave them a six-point lead.

Jerome turned to his couch and scowled. Mobley and Darius Garland jumped out of their seats. Garland got so carried away that he drew a technical foul because he ended up on the field in celebration.

“It was like they were a bunch of newbies,” Atkinson said. “They stood up and cheered their guys on. No one said, ‘Hey, get me back in the game.’ Because that happens sometimes. They’re just happy for their teammates. And they understand the context of the game and that we needed the bench. It’s great to see the chemistry of our team now.”

Chicago committed 21 turnovers, which Bulls coach Billy Donovan labeled as self-inflicted. Cleveland turned them into 35 points. The Cavs had a 24-point advantage in points off turnovers.

“They played great basketball,” Donovan said.

Mitchell and the Cavs are doing their best to enjoy the moment while working for more.

“It’s great to be a part of history,” Mitchell said. “You don’t want to take those things for granted along the way when we do it in different ways. We do it in a way where we blow teams away. We win from behind. We win close games. And every night it’s someone else in charge. It is always a group effort.”

But, Mitchell said, it’s only been 12 games.

“We are playing well. Vibes are good. But we have to remain this team,” Mitchell said. “And that’s what my message is to the guys in the locker room. This is great. We’re going to make teams’ best shots. We’re going to get tested early. I have no doubt that will happen, but will we remain this team in January, February, March, April? That’s been my thing. And I think the guys are all feeling it. But it’s also great to enjoy this moment while still approaching it in a humble way.

(Photo by Donovan Mitchell: Matt Marton / Imagn Images)