Donovan Mitchell Scores 71 Points in Cavaliers’ Overtime Win

Back in September, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded three players and three first round draft picks to the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell. That’s a pretty big price to pay, even for a player of Mitchell’s caliber, but it’s paying off so far for the Cavaliers.

On January 2nd, Mitchell scored 71 points as the Cavaliers came back from a 21 point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls in overtime 145-134. This was the highest scoring by a player since Kobe Bryant’s 81 in 2006. The record is 100 points set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962.

Mitchell is averaging 29.3 points per game, which is seventh in the NBA. He’s a big part of the Cavaliers’ 24-14 start, which was fourth in the Eastern Conference, 2 ½ games behind front runner Boston after completion of play on January 2.