Simply outstanding performance.
Donovan Mitchell wrote his name in NBA history tonight by scoring 71 points in his Cleveland Cavaliers team's success against the Chicago Bulls (145-134 ap).
A stratospheric and historic performance since it is the highest number of points scored in the NBA since Kobe Bryant's 81 in 2006. Before Donovan Mitchell, only six players had reached the 70 point mark.
They are Wilt Chamberlain (100 points), Kobe Bryant (81), David Thompson (73), David Robinson and Elgin Baylor (71) and Devin Booker (70).
"I'm speechless," admitted the 26-year-old shooting guard to a standing ovation from the Cleveland crowd, the franchise he joined last offseason after being transferred from Utah.
I always believed that I could be one of the best players in the league.
It's a blessing to be able to join the greats.
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71 PTS
8 REB
11 AST
W
Donovan Mitchell sets a new scoring record for the Cleveland Cavaliers and becomes only the 7th player in NBA history to score 70+ points in a game.
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— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023
After a timid first quarter (5 points) and a first period which saw his team being mistreated (21 points behind), Donovan Mitchell will breathe a wind of revolt when he returns from the locker room.
He first scored 58 points in regulation time by snatching overtime three seconds from the buzzer after deliberately missing his shot, then grabbing the offensive rebound and then scoring with an ultra-complicated shot in the middle of the scrum.
“I had already managed a game like that on NBA2K”
In extra time, we will only see him on the field.
He scored 13 of his team's 15 points in five minutes to bring their total to 71 points and lead the Cavaliers to victory.
His line of statistics speaks for itself: 22 of his 36 successful attempts, including 7 of 15 behind the three-point line.
He also obtained 25 free throws, for 20 successful, and distributed 11 assists while adding 8 rebounds…
"I think I've had a game like that before on NBA2K (the video game), but I don't think I've been that good.
And again, it was in a defeat, smiles Donovan Mitchell.
I am speechless.
Not just because of what I did, but because I did it to get us back into the game and win.
It's crazy !
“After this 24th success in 38 games, Cleveland retains its 4th place in an Eastern Conference still dominated by the Boston Celtics.
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