Already an All-Star, Donovan Mitchell added his identify to some of the NBA’s maximum rarefied lists Monday evening.
Mitchell set a Cleveland file with 71 issues, essentially the most by means of an NBA participant in 17 years, and the Cavaliers rallied from 21 down to overcome the Chicago Bulls 145-134 in time beyond regulation on Monday evening.
Mitchell’s general matched the 8th very best in league historical past since Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had 81 issues towards Toronto on 22 January 2006. Wilt Chamberlain owns the NBA file with 100 for Philadelphia towards New York on 2 March 1962 at Hershey, Pennsylvania.
“To be there in the record books with guys like Wilt is truly humbling,” stated Mitchell, who was once received from Utah within the offseason. “I always believed I could be one of the best players in the league. I’m speechless and blessed to be in the company of that greatness.”
As the final seconds of OT ticked off the clock, Mitchell waved his arm to the Cleveland crowd, which has embraced him in his short time with the Cavs, to make more noise and then soaked in their applause.
Seconds later, Mitchell was doused with water by his teammates and forward Cedi Osman grabbed a microphone on the floor to lead an “MVP, MVP!” chant.
Mitchell scored 13 points in the extra session after forcing OT by grabbing his own intentionally missed free throw and making a circus-shot with 3.0 seconds left, tying the game at 130-all and breaking the Cleveland record with 58 points.
In OT, Mitchell became the seventh player in the 70-point club. Chamberlain did it six times, while Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson and Devin Booker reached the figure once a piece.
“We were treated tonight to one of the greatest performances in the history of the game,” said Cleveland coach JB Bickerstaff. “Every single play that he made was a play that was necessary.
“Donovan has never put himself above the team, so how can you not root for a guy like that? I told everyone else to get out of the way.
Mitchell also had a career-high tying 11 assists and eight rebounds in 50 minutes, also setting career highs with 20 free throws made and 25 free throws attempted. He scored five points in the first quarter, 11 in the second, 24 in the third and 18 in the fourth.
“I think I had a game like that once playing NBA2K, but I don’t think I shot that efficiently,” Mitchell joked of his video-game abilities. “But that was once at a loss, so this feels that significantly better.”
Mitchell went 22 of 34 from the field and made 7 of 15 three-pointers in carrying the Cavaliers, who were without All-Star guard Darius Garland (right thumb sprain) and forward Evan Mobley (right ankle soreness) for the second straight game.
DeMar DeRozan scored 44 points, Zach LeVine had 26 points and Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago, which did not trail in regulation.
During his postgame news conference, Mitchell was almost in disbelief when it was mentioned he joined the list of NBA legends to surpass 70 points.
“It’s humbling,” he stated. “I’m speechless. For me, no longer most effective did I do this, however I did it an effort once we got here again and gained and it is how we gained. It’s nuts.