Mitchell scored 71 points in the game. There is a time and a place for it.
In Monday's game, Mitchell set a Cleveland record with 71 points, the most by an NBA player in 17 years.
Kobe Bryant had 81 points against Toronto in January of 2006 and it was the most points in a game since. On March 2, 1962, at Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 100-98.
Mitchell said it was "humbling'' to be in the record book with guys like Wilt. I believed I could be a good player. I'm in the company of great people.
Mitchell scored 13 points in the extra session after forcing OT by grabbing his own intentionally missed free throw and making a circus-shot to tie the game at 130-all and break the Cleveland record with 58 points.
Mitchell was the seventh player to reach 70 points. Bryant, David Thompson, David Robinson, and the Phoenix Suns all did it once.
| Date | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| March 2, 1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | 100 |
| Jan. 22, 2006 | Kobe Bryant | 81 |
| Dec. 8, 1961 | Wilt Chamberlain | 78 |
| April 9, 1978 | David Thompson | 73 |
| Nov. 16, 1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | 73 |
| Jan. 13, 1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | 73 |
| Nov. 3, 1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | 72 |
| Monday | Donovan Mitchell | 71 |
| April 24, 1994 | David Robinson | 71 |
| Nov. 15, 1960 | Elgin Baylor | 71 |
| -- ESPN Stats & Information |
Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that the team was treated to one of the best performances in the history of the game. He made plays that were necessary.
You can't not root for a guy like that who has never put himself above the team. Everyone else should leave the way.
Mitchell had a career-high tying 11 assists and eight rebound in 50 minutes and set career highs with 20 free throws made and 25 free throws attempted. He scored 25 points in the third and fourth and 18 in the fifth. He scored 55 points in the second half, tying Bryant for the most in the past 25 seasons.
Mitchell said that he doesn't think he shot that well in the video game. This feels better since that was in a loss.
Speaking of Mitchell's video-game prowess, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving had this to say when told that Mitchell had broken his previous Cleveland record.
It's good." The records are supposed to be broken. I'm glad he did. I yelled at Don but I was on Call of Duty before the game. He was locked in while we were playing quads. He wasn't allowed to leave.
James said that the guy had to be on fire. A lot of guys talk about getting buckets while playing a game. Some of the best players in the world. When you're putting up 70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, you know you're incredibly gifted at what you do. His family will never forget that.
"We were treated tonight to one of the greatest performances in the history of the game. 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."Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff
Mitchell made 7 of 15 3-pointers and went 22-of-34 from the field for the Cavaliers, who were without their All-Star guard for the second game in a row.
He scored or assisted on 99 points, the second most in a game in NBA history, and the most since 1968.
The only lead change of the game was Mitchell's 3-pointer to open OT.
Over the previous four games, Mitchell averaged 17 points while shooting 34% on 73 field goal attempts. He has a scoring average of 28.0.
Bickerstaff said that a lot of teams are sending more bodies at him. It's on his teammates to know that they have to make plays.
The Associated Press and Tim Bontemps contributed to the report.
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