Instant Replay: Donovan Mitchell Scores Career-High 71 Points Against Bulls
Jan 2, 2023, 8:43 PM | Updated: Feb 26, 2023, 9:39 pm
CHICAGO – Donovan Mitchell erupted for the most points by a single player in the 2022-2023 NBA season with 71 on Monday.
Mitchell shot 22 for 34 from the field and 7 for 15 from three in the masterclass performance.
Donovan Mitchell Is In Elite Company
Less than a week after Luka Doncic set this year’s season-high with 60 points, Mitchell broke the 70-point threshold. The last player to score 70 in a game was Devin Booker in 2017. Before that, you have to go back to Kobe Bryant’s notorious 81-point game in 2006.
Along with his 71-points, Mitchell added 8 rebounds and 11 assists.
Donovan Mitchell is the first player in NBA history to score 70+ points and record at least 10 assists in a game.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 3, 2023
There have only been two 60-point triple doubles in NBA history. Mitchell was two rebounds away from the first ever 70-point triple double.
Mitchell’s 71 points is the 6th highest mark in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, and David Robinson have ever scored at least 71-points in an NBA game.
Donovan Mitchell is incredible, cool to see him have a performance like that for the record books.
He’s an all timer.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 3, 2023
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After leaving Utah in the blockbuster trade that sent Lauri Markkanen to the Jazz, Mitchell has been thriving in a Cavs jersey. He is currently averaging 29-4-5 on nearly 50/40/90 shooting splits. His 29.3 points per game average is the 7th highest in the association.
Game Review
Mitchell only scored five points in the first quarter and ended the first half with 16. Not bad by any means, he was on pace to surpass his season average of 28 a night. But, in the second half he really took off.
In the third, Mitchell recorded 24 points and followed that with 18 points in the fourth. The Cavaliers needed all 58 of his points in regulation to force OT in Cleveland.
The Cavs were missing all-star guard Darius Garland and starting big-man Evan Mobley, so the pressure on Mitchell was higher than usual.
DeMar DeRozan put up an impressive 44-points on 50%. But, it wasn’t enough to beat Mitchell and the Cavaliers.
The final score was 145-134. Mitchell scored 13 of Cleveland’s 15 points in overtime.
Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.
