Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell put on an all-time performance Wednesday night. He set a new season-high 46 points to carry his team to an exhilarating 132-121 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Mitchell did all of this in under 35 minutes of game action, showcasing his talent and prowess on the hardwood.
Mitchell’s shooting was nothing short of spectacular. He scored 38 points and shot 15-of-21 from the field. This astounding efficiency resulted in a 71.4% field goal percentage. This figure is tied for the highest percentage in a 45-point game in Cavaliers franchise history. He showcased his three-point shooting skills as well, hitting at least six shots from deep on 54.5% shooting from distance. It’s not just the shooting numbers, he had perfect accuracy at the charity stripe where he hit all ten attempts.
Along with his scoring, Mitchell added four rebounds and eight assists, capping a tremendous all-around impact on the game. He also scored 40 points or more for the 20th time in a Cavaliers jersey. This milestone now ranks him second on the franchise’s all-time list for most 40-point games, trailing only LeBron James.
What sparked that best performance, Mitchell says, was still smarting from a recent loss in NBA 2K to the New York Knicks’ RJ Barrett. Just that morning, the unknown challenger had referred to him as “washed up.” He continued by saying that he hadn’t seen any lowlights from him in years. This exchange only amplified Mitchell’s motivation to show him that he was wrong to doubt her talent on the court.
“He called me washed up; he called me a bunch of things, but I love it. He said he ain’t seen a highlight from me in a minute, and I just told him, ‘All right, we’ll see.’” – Donovan Mitchell
That win against the 76ers was a coming-out party for Mitchell’s brilliance. It showcased the intense competitive spirit that drives athletes, regardless of being in digital matches or physical spaces. His skill at taking an innocuous quip and using it to inspire further underscores this dude’s mental toughness and world-class dedication to craft.
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