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CLEVELAND (AP) — Kenny Atkinson couldn’t help but smile while watching his Cleveland Cavaliers’ score and record.

His first season as coach went perfectly.

“10-0 is something. It’s kind of a magic number, isn’t it? » » said Atkinson. “I was worried about tonight because the Warriors are champions. It surprised me, how ready we were, how hungry we were. 10-0 is really something for our team.

Darius Garland scored 27 points and Evan Mobley 23 while the The Cavaliers routed the Golden State Warriors 136-117 Friday night, becoming the first team in NBA history to win its first 10 games and score at least 110 points in each of them.

Atkinson’s high-powered offense is a great fit for Cleveland, which leads the league in points per game with 124.5 and a .526 field goal percentage.

Under now-Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff last season, the Cavaliers averaged 112.6 points and shot .479 from the field — with the same top nine players on their roster. They lost to eventual champion Boston in the second round of the playoffs.

The only significant change made by general manager Koby Altman was the hiring of Atkinson after spending three years as an assistant under Steve Kerr with the Warriors.

“It was a great job to get, just like mine was 10 years ago, and it’s a perfect place for Kenny,” Kerr said. “The continuity was already there and they were damn good last year, but Kenny added his touch. He is obviously a good candidate.

Atkinson’s fast-paced style quickly won over the face of the franchise, All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. Atkinson had already worked with current Cavs players Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert during his tenure as head coach in Brooklyn, making the transition even smoother.

Utilizing Cleveland’s depth also paid off during the best start in franchise history. Ten players average at least 15 minutes per game, but none log more than 30..

“We’re playing fast and playing the right way,” said backup Ty Jerome, who scored a season-high 20 points against Golden State. “Everyone is making shots and everyone is having fun. And the unselfishness of Donovan and Darius allows us to play that way.

On a night when the Cavaliers took a 41-point halftime lead at 83-42 — tying the eighth-highest score in the NBA’s shot clock era — and tied the team’s record for points in a half, several players noted that they still had not reached their potential.

Cleveland outshot their opponent in every game, but only won the rebounding battle four times. The Cavs also committed 19 turnovers which led to 30 points against the Warriors.

“That’s the thing: We have a long way to go, a lot of things to clean up, which is great,” Allen said. “We know we can be better and we won’t stop working until we get there.” Kenny is one of the best coaches in the league and it shows.