Darius Garland scored 25 points, Ty Jerome matched his career-high with 24 in place of Donovan Mitchell and the host Cleveland Cavaliers stayed unbeaten with a 128-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.

The Cavs are the fourth team to start 15-0, joining the Golden State Warriors (2016), Houston Rockets (1994) and Washington Capitols (1949). The Warriors set the league record by winning their first 24 games on the way to a 73-9 season.

Although they wanted to keep their winning streak alive, the Cavs felt getting Mitchell rest was more important.

LaMelo Ball had 31 points and 12 assists for the Hornets.

MAVERICKS 121, THUNDER 119: P.J. Washington had 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds and visiting Dallas held off Oklahoma City without star guard Luka Doncic. Washington averaged just over eight points and seven rebounds per game entering Sunday’s game but stepped up in the absence of Doncic, who was out with a bruised right knee.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points and Jalen Williams added 27 for the Thunder, who entered the night with a Western Conference-best 11-2 record.

HORNETS’ BALL FINED $100K FOR DEROGATORY COMMENT: Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball said Sunday night that he didn’t mean to offend anyone with a comment the NBA said was “offensive and derogatory” while slapping him with a $100,000 fine.

Following Saturday’s 115-114 win in Milwaukee, Ball made the comment on FanDuel Sports Network. Sideline reporter Shannon Spake asked Ball about the team’s defensive strategy against Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo on the game’s final play, and Ball used an anti-gay slur while delivering his answer.

“Before we get started, I just want to address the comment yesterday,” he told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Cavaliers. “I really didn’t mean anything (by it) and don’t want to offend anybody.

“I’ve got love for everybody, and I don’t discriminate.”