Historical: The Cavs, 60 Victories Without LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached a significant milestone in their season, achieving 60 wins after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 127-122 on Sunday afternoon. It is the first time they have done so without LeBron James.

This is the third time in franchise history that they have reached 60 wins. Donovan Mitchell, who contributed 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the victory, emphasized the importance of this achievement for the team and the city: "We need to celebrate the small victories, and we will. It has been a great year. All our sacrifices and hard work are paying off. It is a significant accomplishment for the organization and the fans."

Coach Kenny Atkinson, in his first season leading the team, admitted that he did not expect to reach this number of wins at the beginning of the campaign. "My internal goal was to improve compared to last year, even if it was just by one or two wins. For this team to elevate its level and exceed that goal says a lot. We can still add more to this. It needs to be celebrated. It is not the final goal, but we need to take a deep breath and enjoy it."

The last time Cleveland reached 60 wins was in the 2009-10 season when they finished with a record of 61-21. The best record in franchise history is 66-16, recorded in the 2008-09 season, both during LeBron James' first stint with the Cavaliers.

Jarrett Allen highlighted the significance of achieving this milestone without James on the team, acknowledging his impact on the city and the franchise's history. "Whether we like it or not, LeBron is the face of this city and has done a lot. It is hard to break away from that idea or the records he set. We are trying to do something special, and we hope to achieve it," commented the center, who contributed 25 points and 12 rebounds in the victory, securing his tenth double-double of the season.

The Ohio team has faced several recent challenges, especially since their 16-game winning streak was interrupted by Orlando on March 16. That defeat marked the beginning of a four-game losing streak, but Cleveland has managed to bounce back, winning four of their last five games.

Before the game against the Clippers, Atkinson focused on his team's performance rather than the strategy to stop players like James Harden, Norman Powell, or Ivica Zubac. He also emphasized the importance of improvement after the loss to Detroit by 133-122. "We had performances that were not the best against Detroit and in our first match against the Clippers. We needed to respond in the best possible way."

Cleveland began to move away from James' shadow last season by defeating Orlando in the first round of the playoffs, achieving their first series win without LeBron since 1993.

With this victory, the Cavaliers maintain a 4.5-game lead over Boston in the fight for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, with only seven games left to play. Now, with a few days of rest before hosting the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Atkinson focuses on more important aspects than securing the top spot.

"If I had to choose priorities, I would prefer the team to play well and everyone to be healthy. I hope that the top spot will come as a result of that, and I believe it will. We must maintain the philosophy and mentality of continued growth," concluded the coach.

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