CLEVELAND — Already an All-Star, Donovan Mitchell added his name to one of the NBA’s rarest lists on Monday night.
Mitchell set a Cleveland record with 71 points, the most by an NBA player in 17 years, and Cavalry down from 21 to defeat Chicago bulls 145-134 in extra time Monday night.
That’s the most points in a game by any player since Los Angeles Lakers Legendary Kobe Bryant has 81 matches Toronto on January 22, 2006. Withered Chamberlain owned an NBA record of 100 for Philadelphia against New York on March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
“Being in the record books with someone like Wilt is truly humbling,” said Mitchell, who was acquired from Wyoming during the season. “I’ve always believed that I could become one of the best players in the league. I’m speechless and so lucky to be accompanied by that greatness.”
As the final seconds of the first half rang out, Mitchell waved to the Cleveland crowd, who had embraced him during his brief stint with the Cavs, to make more noise and then drown in the applause of the crowd. surname.
A few seconds later, Mitchell was doused with water by his teammates and rushed forward Cedi Osman grabbed a microphone on the floor to sing “MV-P”.
Mitchell scored 13 points in extra time after forcing the start of the Half by taking his own intentionally missed free throw and performing a circus hit with 3.0 seconds left, ending The match was at 130 and broke Cleveland’s record with 58 points.
In the inning, Mitchell became the seventh player in the 70-point club. Chamberlain did it six times, while Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson and phoenix sun‘ Booker Devin each person reaches the number once.
Cleveland coach JB Bickerstaff said: “Tonight we enjoyed one of the greatest performances in game history.
“Donovan has never put himself above the team, so how can you not cheer for a guy like that? I told the others to get out of the way.”
Mitchell had 11 career-high assists and eight rebounds in 50 minutes, and set a career peak with 20 free throws and 25 free throws. He scored five points in the first half, 11 points in the second half, 24 points in the third and 18 points in the fourth. His 55 points after half-time surpassed Bryant by most of any player in the past 25 seasons.
“I think I’ve had one like that playing NBA2K, but I don’t think I’ve shot that well,” Mitchell joked about his video game skills. “But it was a loss, so this feels much better.” ‘
Speaking of Mitchell’s level of video games, brooklyn network guard Kyrie Irving had this to say when it was announced that Mitchell had broken the Cavaliers’ previous record of 57 points, shared by Irving and LeBron James:
“Good. Records are made to be broken,” he said. “I’m so glad he did. What’s interesting is… tell Don I yelled at him, but I was in Call of Duty a little bit before the game against Don. We were playing. quad, and he’s locked, I can tell. He’s locked.”
James, who now plays for the Lakers, said: “I haven’t seen the clips of the game, but obviously, that guy had to be on fire. … We played a game where a lot of guys were always on. Speaking of buckets, you know? And some of the best of those putting the ball in. And obviously, tonight, Donovan showed that he’s one of the best in our league. we can give the ball… any time you give the ball in your 70s, 60s, 50s, 40s — you know you’re extremely, extremely gifted at what you do. something he will never forget, his family will never forget.”
Mitchell dribbled 22/34 from the field and hit 7 out of 15 3-pointers carrying the Cavaliers, the team without an All-Star guard Darius wreath (right thumb sprain) and forward Evan Mobley (right ankle pain) for the second consecutive game.
“Tonight we enjoyed one of the greatest performances in the history of football. Every ball he made was a necessary play. Donovan never put himself first. team, so how can you not cheer for someone like that? I told the others to get out of the way.”
Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff
He’s scored or assisted with 99 points, the second most in a game in NBA history and the most since Chamberlain’s 100-point game.
During his post-match press conference, Mitchell almost couldn’t believe it when it was announced that he had joined the list of NBA legends who passed 70 points.
“It’s humbling,” he said. “I’m speechless. For me, I’m not just doing that but I’m working when we come back and win and that’s how we win. It’s crazy.”
Mitchell then tweeted a photo His is surrounded by his Cavaliers teammates while holding a piece of paper with “71” written on it, a nod to the iconic Chamberlain photo.
Mitchell entered the new year in a merry attack, averaging 17.5 points in the previous four games while scoring 32.9% in 73 goals. He is currently 9th in the NBA with an average score of 28.0.
“A lot of teams are sending a lot more corpses towards him, and we have to help him,” Bickerstaff said.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Dave McMenamin and Associated Press contributed to this report.
