CLEVELAND – Both the ground and the ball were different. Not the Cleveland Cavalierswhich remained unchanged – and unblemished.

They continued their perfect start, improving to 14-0 Friday night with a Victory 144-126 against the Chicago Bulls in an NBA Cup opener that served as yet another showcase for a Cavs team clicking like never before.

After the final buzzer, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen celebrated more history by dancing on the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse runs with a giant green frog, which quickly became an impromptu mascot for an unplanned departure.

“It’s Cleveland,” Allen said, trying to explain the amphibian’s sudden arrival. “It’s just a vibe in the city and I hope it doesn’t change.”

Even playing without starting forward Evan Mobley, Cleveland became the sixth team in league history to win its first 14 games and the first since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who opened 24-0 and finished 73-9.

It’s unclear where this season is going in Cleveland, but no Cavs team has ever started better.

The 14-game winning streak is the longest in club history — the Cavs had three 13 players with LeBron James on the roster — as first-year coach Kenny Atkinson pushed all the right buttons while diving deep into his bench every game.

Atkinson, who spent the last three seasons on Golden State’s staff after four years as Brooklyn’s coach, now has the longest winning streak of any coach on a new team. He entered the game tied with Lawrence Frank, who won 13 in a row after taking over the Nets midway through the 2004 season.

While Atkinson inherited a team that reached the Eastern Conference semifinals under JB Bickerstaff, the 57-year-old made the Cavs even better by adhering to a fast-paced offensive system designed around spacing, 3 points and ball movement.

The Cavs win selflessly.

“Right from the start, I knew this was a band that liked each other, that liked playing with each other,” Atkinson said. “I knew we had good passers. We have good connectors. We know where to find it. We make quick decisions.

After Cleveland knocked off Golden State last week, Warriors forward Draymond Green said the Cavs moved the ball better than any team he’s seen, including the title winners he’s been a part of.

“I was so thrilled when Draymond said that the other day,” Atkinson said. “He was really impressed with the way we sent the ball. How we drive, kick, swing. We take him out of the pick and roll. We get it in fast break situations, and it’s Warriors-esque. It’s definitely that type of ball movement. It’s beautiful to look at.

Atkinson isn’t letting his team be satisfied either. After the Cavs allowed 73 points in the first half, the coach angrily slammed a shower sandal into the locker room at halftime.

“That’s what we want,” Mitchell said. “We all prefer it.” We hear how good we are. For us, that’s how we improve. We haven’t lost, but how do we continue to find ways to develop habits? It’s about continuing to coach hard and not allowing any mistakes. That’s what you want in a coach.

The Cavs have been perfect so far, and it never hurts to have a player of Mitchell’s stature leading the way.

He scored a season-high 37 – 18 in the fourth quarter – to hold off the Bulls, who were still down four points in the final three minutes when Cleveland engaged in what became known as the “Cav-a- lanche” lately. years.

Backup Caris LeVert and Mitchell both made 3-pointers as the Cavs closed with a 21-7 burst. A win on Sunday would put them in a rarefied situation as only four teams started 15-0.

Sensing his team needed more from him, Mitchell opened the fourth by scoring Cleveland’s first nine points.

“That was him,” Atkinson said. “It wasn’t us. It wasn’t me who said it. He just feels what does the team need right now? And it could be him or it could be someone else. And that’s a testament to his IQ, just understanding who’s on the field, who he’s playing with.

“We’re looking to score a little bit and he just took over.”

That’s what Mitchell had in mind when he signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension this summer and committed to the Cavs.

He loved the city. He believed in the young core of the team. He knew the Cavs were capable of doing great things.

Mitchell didn’t see the footage coming — nor did the frog, which had been seen on the streets outside the arena.

“It was fun,” he said. “I was completely shocked when I saw the frog. It was pretty awesome. It was like just a vibe.

The Cavs want it to last.

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NBA AP: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA