CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers tipped off their home schedule on Sunday night, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 118-113.
What You Need To Know
Sunday’s Cavaliers home opener was a franchise-record 147th consecutive sellout for Cleveland
Cleveland was an Eastern Conference-best 34-7 at home last season
Fans like Michael Harris expect this year’s team to deliver a championship
The sentiment is clear among the fans who think this Cavs team has what it takes to go all the way this season.
Fans filed in to get their first look at a team hoping to win a championship 10 seasons after Cleveland brought home its first title.
Sunday’s home opener against Milwaukee extended Cleveland’s franchise record to 147 straight sellouts at Rocket Arena.
Michael Harris traveled all the way from New Jersey for the home opener, something he’s made a tradition over the last few years.
“This is my fifth home opener in a row and sixth overall,” said Harris. “I’ve been here a couple times. I love it here. I was a LeBron fan growing up since ‘04 and then I became a Cleveland sports fan. I pretty much bleed Cleveland from New Jersey.”
Harris thinks this year’s team has what it takes to make a deep playoff run to the NBA Finals.
“They’re probably one of the best teams in the league,” he said. “As long as they stay healthy I think they can make a huge push. I kind of agree with what Garland said. If he was healthy I think we would’ve beat Indiana and made The Finals last year.”
Some of Cleveland’s biggest stars agree.
“The biggest goal is a championship,” reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley said at media day. “That’s the ultimate goal, and I think this year we’re ready for that.”
The Cavaliers are hoping their fans can replicate what was the best home court advantage in the Eastern Conference a season ago. Cleveland finished with a 34-7 record at Rocket Arena in 2024, the best mark in the Eastern Conference and the second-best home record in the NBA.