**Cavaliers Stay Perfect, Crush Warriors to Reach 10-0 Start**
Kenny Atkinson couldn't hide his smile as he gazed at the box score and saw the undefeated record of his Cleveland Cavaliers. His first season as head coach had gone flawlessly so far.
"10-0 is something special," Atkinson said. "It's kind of a magic number, right? I was a bit worried about tonight because the Warriors are champions, but I was honestly surprised by how ready and hungry we were. This is really something for our team."
Darius Garland led the charge with 27 points, while Evan Mobley added 23 as the Cavaliers dominated the Golden State Warriors 136-117 on Friday night. With the win, Cleveland became the first team in NBA history to start a season 10-0 while scoring at least 110 points in each game. They also became the first team to begin 10-0 since the 2015-16 Warriors.
Atkinson's high-powered offense has been a perfect fit for Cleveland, as the Cavs now lead the league in points per game (124.5) and field goal percentage (.526). This is a significant improvement from last season under former coach J.B. Bickerstaff, when the Cavaliers averaged 112.6 points and shot .479 from the field. Despite that, they made a deep playoff run before falling to eventual champions Boston in the second round.
The main change for Cleveland this season was the hiring of Atkinson, who previously spent three years as an assistant under Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Kerr himself praised the move, calling it a "perfect fit" for Atkinson, noting the continuity in Cleveland's roster and the success the team had last year.
"Continuity was already there, and they were damn good last year," Kerr said. "But Kenny has added his touch, and he's obviously a good fit."
Atkinson's up-tempo style has meshed well with the team, particularly All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, who has thrived under the new system. Atkinson had also worked with current Cavs players like Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert during his time in Brooklyn, making the transition seamless.
Cleveland's depth has also been a major factor in their best start in franchise history. Ten players are averaging at least 15 minutes per game, with none playing more than 30 minutes.
"We're playing fast, and we're playing the right way," said backup guard Ty Jerome, who scored a season-high 20 points against the Warriors. "Everyone is making shots, and everyone is having fun. Donovan and Darius' selflessness is allowing us to play that way."
On Friday, the Cavaliers built an impressive 41-point halftime lead, 83-42, tying for the eighth-largest halftime lead in the NBA's shot clock era. They also matched the team record for points in a half. Despite the dominant performance, several players noted that they still haven't reached their full potential.
"We've outshot our opponents in every game, but we've only won the rebounding battle four times. We also had 19 turnovers that led to 30 points for the Warriors," said Allen. "That's the thing—we know we have a long way to go, a lot of things to clean up, which is great. We know we can be better, and we're not going to stop working until we get there. Kenny is one of the best coaches in the league, and it's showing."
The Cavaliers' historic start shows no signs of slowing down, and with their blend of talent, depth, and coaching, they could be poised for a special season.
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.*
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