Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell became just the seventh player in NBA history to score at least 70 points in a game. He scored 71 in a 145-134 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, Jan. 2. Mitchell joins an exclusive list with his historic performance.
Which NBA Players Have Scored 70 Points Or More In A Game?
On the list with Mitchell is the incomparable Wilt Chamberlain who scored at least 70 points in a game, a total of six times in his career.
Kobe Bryant is also on that list, with his captivating 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
San Antonio Spurs legend David Robinson scored 71 points in the final regular-season game of the 1993-94 season to clinch the scoring title over Shaquille O’Neal.
A contemporary of Mitchell’s, the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker, scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics in 2017.
Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and David Thompson are the other two men on the list.
Is Donovan Mitchell An All-Time Great NBA Player?
That’s elite company for the 26-year-old Mitchell who is having the best year of his career so far this season.
Mitchell is +5.1 in EPM, the best of his career, placing him in the 96th percentile in the NBA. He has never been more efficient, sporting 64 TS% and 59 eFG% splits. He’s shooting a career high 41% on nine attempted threes per game. He’s already made three All-Star teams in his career, and looks to be ready to make his first All-NBA team.
“To be there in the record book with guys like Wilt is truly humbling,” said Mitchell, who was acquired from Utah in the offseason. “I always believed I could be one of the best players in the league. I’m speechless and blessed to be in the company of that greatness.”
Mitchell’s 71-point performance has set a new regular season record for a Cleveland Cavaliers player. He eclipsed LeBron James and Kyrie Irving’s shared record of 57 points.
“Good. Records are meant to be broken,” Irving said. “I’m happy he did. What’s funny about it is … tell Don I shouted him out, but I was on Call of Duty a little bit before the game with Don. We were playing quads, and he was locked in, I could tell. He was locked in.”
Kevin Love Says Donovan Mitchell Had Greatest Performance In Cavs History
Mitchell’s teammate Kevin Love, who was also teammates with Irving and Bron, took to Twitter to reflect on the top moments during his time with the Cavs and Mitchell’s performance was up there, along with some other great ones.
No particular order but these top my time as a Cav
Bron Game 1 2018 finals
Ky 55 vs Portland and 57 vs San Antonio
Don 71 tonight
Bron and Ky 41 a piece in game 5 down 3-2 2016 finals
Obviously my 34 point first quarter against PortlandWhat am I missing?
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) January 3, 2023
3-1***
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) January 3, 2023
Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant, arguably the greatest scorer in NBA history, tweeted about Mitchell’s historic performance.
71….Donny a certified bucket
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 3, 2023
Mitchell’s performance was critical in a much-needed win for the Cavaliers. As we head toward the halfway point in the season, the top of Eastern Conference has gotten tight. The Cavaliers are in fourth place, only two-and a-half games behind the conference-leading Boston Celtics.
“We were treated tonight to one of the greatest performances in the history of the game,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Every single play that he made was a play that was necessary.
“Donovan has never put himself above the team, so how can you not root for a guy like that? I told everyone else to get out of the way.”
The Cavaliers are second in aNET rating, 10th in aORTG and second in aDRTG. These are signs of a team ready to make a deep playoff run.
They’re young and as a collective are not playoff tested, though Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert have playoff experience.
There is belief in Cleveland again, and Mitchell is a big reason why.
