The Cavs(24-14) returned home to face the Bulls(16-21) on Monday night. Cleveland, who defeated the Bulls 103-102 in Chicago on Saturday, was again without Darius Garland(thumb) and Evan Mobley(ankle), but they did have Donovan Mitchell.
After trailing by as many as 21 points in the first half and by as many as 18 in the third, Mitchell scored 71 points, 55 which came after halftime, and the Cavs defeated the Bulls 145-134 in OT.
Here’s the Great, Not So Great, and the Bottom Line of the Cavs’ loss to the Bulls.
Great:
Donovan Mitchell had a career-high, an NBA season-high, and a Cavs franchise record-high 71 points. Mitchell is the seventh player in NBA history to finish with 70-plus points in a game. He also added eight rebounds and 11 assists.
Mitchell was 22/34 from the field, including five threes. In addition, he was 20/25 from the free-throw line. The 71 points for Mitchell is the most by a player in an NBA game since Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in 2006.
According to Basketball Reference, Mitchell became the first player in NBA history with 70 points/10 assists in a game.
‘Third Quarter Mitchell”: He scored 24 points in the third and was a perfect 12/12 from the line. Cleveland scored 44 points in the quarter, and a 21-point lead was down to five heading into the fourth.
“Fourth Quarter Mitchell”: He scored 18 points in the fourth, and after intentionally missing a free throw, Mitchell would get the putback to tie things up at 130 with 03.0 left in regulation to send the contest into overtime!
“Overtime Mitchell”: Mitchell scored 13 of Cleveland’s 15 points in OT. He was 4/4 from the field, including 3/3 from downtown.
Not So Great:
We could talk about that first half, where the Cavs trailed by as many as 21 points, but not today; it’s all about Donovan Mitchell.
Bottom Line:
This is why you acquire Donovan Mitchell. No Darius Garland, no Evan Mobley, no problem. Mitchell just kept coming, and coming, and coming. Chicago had no answers for him. He did it from the field, he did it from the line, and the Cavs got a big win!!
What’s Next:
The Cavs host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
Best of the Rest:
Cleveland had five players in double figures. Kevin Love, who started for Mobley, had 12 points and 17 rebounds, Jarrett Allen had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Cedi Osman scored 19 points off the bench.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 44 points, including six threes. Zach LaVine had 26 points, six rebounds, and six assists; Nikola Vucevic had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. All five starters for the Bulls scored in double-figures.
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