Donovan Mitchell had a career night on Monday, as he erupted for 71 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ overtime win over the Chicago Bulls (134-145).
The superstar guard set a Cleveland record with 71 points, most by an NBA player in 17 years, and the Cavaliers rallied from 21 down to sweep a two-game series with Chicago.
Donovan Mitchell’s total matched the eighth highest in league history since the late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had 81 points against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006.
Wilt Chamberlain owns the NBA record with 100 for Philadelphia against New York on March 2, 1962, at Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Mitchell also had a career-high tying 11 assists and eight rebounds in 50 minutes, also setting career highs with 20 free throws made and 25 free throws attempted. He scored five points in the first quarter, 11 in the second, 24 in the third and 18 in the fourth.
Donovan Mitchell went 22 of 34 from the field and made 7 of 15 3-pointers in carrying the Cavaliers, who were without All-Star guard Darius Garland (right thumb sprain) and forward Evan Mobley (right ankle soreness) for the second straight game.
In the other games, the Dallas Mavericks extended their winning streak to seven games, while the Brooklyn Nets continued their hot run by winning their 12th straight game and now are just one game behind the East leaders Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, Klay Thompson exploded for 54 points, while the Atlanta Hawks, LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns extended their losing skid.
Phoenix Suns (20-18) vs New York Knicks (20-18): 83-102
Deandre Ayton 12 points, 5 rebounds – Julius Randle 28 points, 16 boards, 6 assists
LA Lakers (16-21) vs Charlotte Hornets (10-28): 121-115
LeBron James 43 points, 11 boards, 6 assists – LaMelo Ball 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Chicago Bulls (16-21) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (24-14): 134-145 (OT)
DeMar DeRozan 44 points – Donovan Mitchell 71 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds
Toronto Raptors (16-21) vs Indiana Pacers (21-17): 114-122
Pascal Siakam 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists – Tyrese Haliburton 16 points, 8 assists, 6 boards
New Orleans Pelicans (23-14) vs Philadelphia 76ers (22-14): 111-120
Zion Williamson 26 points, 7 assists, 6 boards – Joel Embiid 42 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists
San Antonio Spurs (12-25) vs Brooklyn Nets (25-12): 103-139
Keldon Johnson 22 points – Kevin Durant 25 points, 11 assists
Dallas Mavericks (22-16) vs Houston Rockets (10-27): 111-106
Luka Doncic 39 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists – Kevin Porter Jr. 25 points, 6 boards, 6 assists
Denver Nuggets (24-13) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (17-21): 111-124
Nikola Jokic 24 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds – Anthony Edwards 29 points, 10 boards, 5 assists
Atlanta Hawks (17-20) vs Golden State Warriors (20-18): 141-143 (OT2)
Trae Young 30 points, 14 assists, 7 rebounds – Klay Thompson 54 points, 8 boards
Detroit Pistons (10-30) vs Portland Trail Blazers (19-17): 106-135
Bojan Bogdanovic 21 points – Jerami Grant 36 points
Miami Heat (20-18) vs LA Clippers (21-18): 110-100
Bam Adebayo 31 points, 13 boards – Paul George 25 points, 7 assists