Already an All-Star, Donovan Mitchell on Monday added his name to one of the NBA’s most rarefied lists.
Mitchell set a Cleveland Cavaliers record with 71 points, most by any player in 17 years, and the team rallied from 21 down to beat the Chicago Bulls 145-134 in overtime.
Mitchell’s total matched the eighth-highest in league history and marked the most points by an NBA player since Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant scored 81 against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006.
Photo: AP
Wilt Chamberlain owns the NBA record with 100 for the then-Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, at Hershey, Pennsylvania.
“To be there in the record book with guys like Wilt is truly humbling,” said Mitchell, acquired from Utah in the offseason. “I always believed I could be one of the best players in the league. I’m speechless and blessed to be in the company of that greatness.”
As the final seconds of overtime ticked off the clock, Mitchell waved his arm for the Cleveland crowd, which has embraced him in his short time with the Cavs, to make more noise and then soaked in their applause.
Seconds later, Mitchell was doused with water by his teammates and forward Cedi Osman grabbed a microphone on the floor to lead an “M-V-P, M-V-P,” chant.
Mitchell scored 13 points in the extra session after forcing OT by grabbing his own intentionally missed free throw and making a circus shot with three seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 130 and breaking the Cleveland record with 58 points.
Mitchell became the seventh player in the 70-point club. Chamberlain did it six times, while Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson and Devin Booker reached the figure once apiece.
“We were treated tonight to one of the greatest performances in the history of the game,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Every single play that he made was a play that was necessary.”
Elsewhere, the Knicks beat the Phoenix Suns 102-83, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Toronto Raptors 122-114, the Lakers topped the Charlotte Hornets 121-115, the Philadelphia 76ers outplayed the New Orleans Pelicans 120-111, the Brooklyn Nets dominated the San Antonio Spurs 139-103, the Golden State Warriors pipped the Atlanta Hawks 143-141, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 124-111, the Dallas Mavericks overcame the Houston Rockets 111-106, the Portland Trail Blazers devastated the Detroit Pistons 135-106 and the Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 110-100.
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