Donovan Mitchell scores League High 71 points

Donovan Mitchell has been everything the Cleveland Cavaliers hoped he would be. He was acquired this NBA offseason in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz, and while it took a lot to bring him in, it’s a trade the franchise would earn 10 times out of 10.

With 38 games this season, Mitchell is by far the best player in the Cavaliers. He has helped elevate them from a potential Play-In team to a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference as they are 24-14 on the season, tied with the Milwaukee Bucks and just 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the first place.

Mitchell had a truly memorable performance against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. He scored 71 points, surpassing Luka Doncic, who scored 60 points last week, for a new league-high this season. Just as Doncic set records with his performance, so did Mitchell with his.

In addition to the 71 points, Mitchell dished out 10 assists in the game. The 99 points he accounted for are the second-highest ever in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain during his 100-point game. Chamberlain also dished out two assists in that game and was responsible for 104 points, which remains the record after Mitchell came very close.

“To be up there in the record book with guys like Wilt is really humbling,” said Mitchell. “I am speechless and blessed to be in the company of that greatness.”

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Whenever you are mentioned in the same sentence as Chamberlain, you are doing something right. It was a truly inspired effort from Mitchell as the Cavaliers came up short in the game.

Darius Garland is struggling with a thumb injury and due to double overtime, many players went past their normal playing time. Mitchell ended up playing a game-high 50 minutes, not getting off the field once in the second half or overtime.

“Donovan never put himself above the team, so how can you not support a man like that?” Cavaliers head coach said JB Bickerstaff. “We were treated to one of the best performances in the history of the game tonight.”

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Mitchell shot 22 of 34 from the field, went 7 of 15 from 3-point range, and made 20 of 25 free throw attempts en route to his 71-point performance. In addition to the 10 assists, Mitchell grabbed eight rebounds and had one block.

“I always believed that I could become one of the best players in the league,” Mitchell said. “I forced myself into it.”

LATEST NBA NEWS: Donovan Mitchell & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates

This season, he was special for the Cavaliers, averaging a career-high 29.3 points per game, along with 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Mitchell also has the most efficient shooting season of his career and has improved performance on the defensive end of the field, giving Cleveland a star-level two-way production.