Longest NBA winning streaks to start a season: Cavaliers climbing leaderboard with perfect start

The Cleveland Cavaliers have played 15 games and they’ve won all 15, joining some exclusive company in the process. No matter who’s on the floor, Cleveland just keeps winning, building momentum with every victory. They are now tied for the second-best start in NBA history, and are inching closer to the all-time record.

The greatest start in league history belongs to the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who kicked off their season with a staggering 24 consecutive victories. With 15 wins down, Cleveland has nine to go to tie the Warriors. For now, though, the Cavs steadily climbing up the all-time leaderboard. They are now the fourth team in league history to win their first 15 games, tying the all-time non-Warriors record, shared by the 1993-94 Houston Rockets and 1948-49 Washington Capitols.

Longest winning streaks to start NBA season

• 2015-16 Golden State Warriors: 24 wins
• 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers: 15 wins
• 1993-94 Houston Rockets: 15 wins
• 1948-49 Washington Capitols: 15 wins
• 2002-2003 Dallas Mavericks: 14 wins
• 1957-58 Boston Celtics: 14 wins
• 1996-97 Chicago Bulls: 12 wins
• 1982-83 Seattle SuperSonics: 12 wins

Unfortunately, Cleveland’s push for sole possession of second place on the all-time leaderboard hits a green and white buzzsaw in Game No. 16 — a road trip to Boston to face the defending champion Celtics. Granted, Cleveland has played Boston exceptionally well in recent years. They are 5-5 against each other in the past three regular seasons, which doesn’t sound great until you remember how badly Boston has beaten up everybody else in that time frame. Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis will still be out when that game comes, but it’s an NBA Cup matchup and everyone else will be well-rested. This is by far the hardest game on Cleveland’s short-term schedule and perhaps its entire regular season.

If Cleveland can make it through Boston, there’s another clear path up to 20. Their next four games would be home dates with the injury-riddled Pelicans and Raptors followed by a home-and-home with the underwhelming Hawks. Those are not automatic wins by any means, especially if the Pelicans or Raptors can get healthier before then, but Cleveland will, again, be strong favorites in each of those games.

The home stretch to the Warriors is where things get tough again. While game No. 22 would be an easy home game against the Wizards, it’s sandwiched between home games against the Celtics and Nuggets. The record-tying win would come on the road in Charlotte, and the record-breaking win would come on the road in Miami.

In all likelihood, Cleveland isn’t getting to 24. As daunting as that road trip to Boston looks, the reality of the modern NBA is that three-point variance and the sheer depth of talent in the league today ensures that there are no truly easy games. Getting to 15 hasn’t been easy for Cleveland. Even if 24 or 25 isn’t realistic, there’s no reason to believe the Cavs are cooling off any time soon, barring injuries.