CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored an NBA season-high and franchise-record 71 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers recovered from a 21-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls, 145-134. Overtime Monday night.
It was the highest scoring game since Lakers legend Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against Toronto on January 22, 2006. Wilt Chamberlain has his NBA record of 100 points on March 2, 1962, in a game against Philadelphia against New York in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
After grabbing a deliberately missed free throw and making a circus shot with 3.0 seconds left to force an OT, Mitchell scored 13 points in the extra session to tie the game at 130 and set a Cavaliers record with 58 points. I broke it.
“I’ve never seen a show like that,” said Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff. “We were treated to one of his greatest performances in NBA history tonight.”
In OT, Mitchell became the 12th player to score 70 points. Former Utah his Jazz standout recorded his 11 assists and his 8 rebounds in 50 minutes and set career highs with 20 free throws and his 25 free throw attempts. Recorded.
Mitchell made 22-of-34 field goals to carry the Cavaliers without All-Star guard Darius Garland (sprained right thumb) and forward Evan Mobley (sore right ankle) for the second straight game. Made 7 of 15 3-pointers.
“Every play he made was a necessary play,” said Bickerstaff.
DeMar DeRozan had 44 points, Zach Levine had 26 points and Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 13 rebounds, all not falling behind in regulation.
Mitchell led Cleveland for the first time, the game’s only lead change, by filling in a 3-pointer to open OT. The Cavaliers’ previous record of 57 points was shared by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
The enemy of the Central Division met for the second time in three days. Cleveland was a 103–102 winner at the United Center on December 31.
spider time
Mitchell started the new year with an aggressive funk, shooting 32.9% on 73 field goal attempts and averaging 17.5 points over the last four games. He currently ranks his 9th in the NBA with a scoring average of 28.0. “Many teams are sending him more bodies. It’s our responsibility to help him,” said Bickerstaff. “It’s his teammate’s responsibility to realize that he has to make the team pay and play.”
tip in
Bulls: G Javonte Green (sore right knee) has been out after playing the last three games. Green has missed a total of nine games with the injury and will undergo a thorough examination in Chicago on Tuesday. “He was a little bit ahead, but he flared up again,” said coach Billy Donovan. or work on a limited court.
Cavaliers: Cleveland posted a winning record every first three months of the season for the first time since 2016-2017. The latter capped a 16-game winning streak with All-Stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. … G Ricky Rubio (left knee rehab), F Dean Wade (sprained left shoulder) and G Dylan Windler (sprained right ankle) are out. Rubio said he could be back in two weeks.
next
Bulls: Visit Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Cavaliers: Host Phoenix on Wednesday night.
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