By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers just had a record-setting night after exploding for 71 big points last January 3, 2023, in another NBA Eastern Conference showcase.
The former Utah Jazz franchise player waxed hot from the shooting field and carried the Cavaliers to a come-from-behind 145-134 victory against the Chicago Bulls that helped Cleveland improve to a 24-14 win-loss record, fourth overall in the Eastern Conference.
It was a sweet way to end the game against the Bulls as the Cavaliers went down by as much as 20 points after Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan put on a scoring clinic for three-straight quarters.
However, Mitchell smelled blood at the start of the third period and single-handedly put Cleveland back in the game after trimming Chicago’s double-digit lead to just five points.
The Mitchell scoring spree continued in the fourth quarter and helped them stay within striking distance. Every time Cleveland made a run, the Bulls answered with big-time baskets courtesy of DeRozan’s efficient perimeter shooting and decision-making which led to a couple of Nikola Vucevic clutch treys.
It was in the last two minutes when Mitchell blossomed into ‘God-mode’ after making all the biggest plays for the Cavaliers.
Down by six in the last two minutes of the game, 122-116, Mitchell assisted a big three-pointer from Caris LeVert that turned the game into a one-possession affair.
After an assist, Mitchell took matters into his own hands and buried a stop-and-pop shot from downtown that cut Chicago’s lead to just a point, 123-122, with a minute remaining in the slugfest.
Chicago thought Vucevic’s huge trey that gave them a 126-123 lead was enough but Mitchell countered with three more jaw-dropping plays including the follow-up basket that forced overtime.
It was then all Cleveland in the extra five minutes as Mitchell ran the show for the Cavaliers and scored 13 more points that tied Elgin Baylor and David Robinson’s sixth place in the NBA scoring record.
Mitchell buried 22 of his 34 total attempts while also dishing out 11 dimes to complete his record-breaking double-double performance.
Wilt Chamberlain still holds the record with 100 points followed by Kobe Bryant’s 81, Chamberlain’s 78, David Thompson and Chamberlain’s 73, and Chamberlain’s 72.
