Donovan Mitchell scores NBA-season-high, Cavs-franchise-best 71 in win

In miraculous, comeback fashion, Donovan Mitchell rallied theshort-handed Cleveland Cavaliers from a double-digit deficit withan NBA season-high 71 points on 22-of-34 shooting from the field todefeat the Chicago Bulls to ring in the New Year at Rocket MorgageFieldHouse.

"I had to do a little something with Darius [Garland] beingout," Mitchell told Bally Sports Ohio's Serena Winters with a grinfollowing the performance.

71 PTS8 REB11 ASTWDonovan Mitchell sets a new scoring record for the ClevelandCavaliers and becomes only the 7th player in NBA history to score70+ points in a game. pic.twitter.com/qbOwr3sqyH

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023

"First and foremost, my teammates, we fought. I know I had 70and all, but I wouldn't be here without them. We wouldn't have beenin this position without our guys making crucial plays," Mitchellsaid. "That's the honest truth. We didn't come out too great tostart the first half. (Cavs head coach) J.B. [Bickerstaff] threwsome stuff around, screamed at us a little bit, told us to lock-in,and we all did it as a group. My teammates put me in the rightpositions and I just made the plays."

Put it in writing. ✍️ #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/iphvVYYPwv

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 3, 2023

"I was telling some of these guys, in my 15 years, that’s thebest performance I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been a part of — I’veseen some special ones," Kevin Love added. "I was talking aboutKyrie [Irving] here against Portland when he had 55. LeBron [James]in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. Fifty-seven for Kyrie in San Antonio.But this one takes the cake. You see he had 34 shots, 20-for-25from the line, 7-for-15 from three."

Mitchell also created 28 points for his teammates on 11 assists,meaning he was responsible for 99 of the Cavs' points combined.That's the second-highest mark to Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record of104, per OptaSTATS.

"But you know, I hope people don’t overlook that he had 11assists and 8 rebounds as well. Four turnovers (laughs). That’sjust, I mean, Don... I think I’ve told you guys time and timeagain, but his process, the way he works, how he takes care of hisbody, how locked in he is, he means everything to this team," Loveadded. "I was saying, our group text from 2016, I was like, ‘Whatwas Donovan’s asking price?’ That was something special tonight.He’s one of what, seven players that have scored over 70? That’selite company, I can only imagine those names."

Showered with MVP chants once again by the wine-and-goldfaithful (with Cedi Osman leading the crowd), Mitchell delivered awhooping 55 of his points in the second half and overtime to willCleveland to back-to-back victories over its Central Divisionfoe.

🗣 MVP MVP MVP MVP#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/EZq62CnA0i

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) January 3, 2023

"He was determined to show that this group and winning is themost important thing to him. There's not enough words... I've neverbeen a witness to a performance like that live," Bickerstaff saidafter the game. "I think we've seen something (like it) on TVbefore, but we were treated tonight to one of the greatestperformances in the history of the NBA."

Mitchell went 7-for-15 from three-point range and converted20-of-25 free throws in the game.

Impressively enough, he had to give himself an opportunity toaccomplish the feat with a putback off an intentional miss from thecharity stripe similar to how Luka Doncic executed it last week. Ittied the game at 130 apiece, where Mitchell would drop 13 in theextra period.

Are you serious, Donovan?! 😳 pic.twitter.com/YVpO9RDmzs

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) January 3, 2023

"Just miss the free throw the right way. I actually work onit... I'm lying," Mitchell joked. "Shout out to my guys. They hadto box out the bigs. No one boxed me out, and I ran in just tryingto make the play... Crazy series of events. I appreciate the trust[J.B.] has in me. It's a wild finish. Sometimes you've just gottalaugh it off and just go out there and continue to do what you'vegotta do."

Mitchell's mark of 71 points is the most in the history of theCavs’ franchise, and he is the seventh player to record a 70-pointperformance in the history of the NBA.

.@spidadmitchell(71 POINTS) is the 7th player in @NBA history toscore 70 PTS in a game, joining...Wilt ChamberlainKobe BryantDavid ThompsonElgin BaylorDavid RobinsonDevin Booker#LetEmKnow#NBAAllStar

— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) January 3, 2023

"It's humbling. I'm speechless to best honest with you when yousay that," Mitchell told reporters. "For me, not only did I dothat, but I did it in an effort where we came back and won. Andit's how we won. It's like, man, this is... nuts (laughs)to be honest.

"I'm extremely blessed and humbled that I'm in that company, inthat group. I've always believed I could be one of the best playersin this league, but I've gotta keep working. This is a bigmilestone, but at the end of the day, we've gotta continue... thoseguys have all won at the highest level and that's my ultimate goal.But to be there with them in the record books is just trulyincredible."

Donovan Mitchell on joining an elite groupof NBA players to score more than 70 points in a single game.#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/zZTBdiiiC7

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) January 3, 2023

"Honestly, it was just finding a way to win," Mitchell said. "Itold J.B., 'Don't take me out. I'm gonna try to just find a way tolead us in every aspect.' Like I said, some nights it's putting theball in the basket, some nights it's defense, some nights it's justfinding guys and just try to find different things... I'm justtruly blessed and humbled that we got the W, that's all thatmatters."

Hear the full postgame interview withDonovan Mitchell following his @cavs franchiserecord 71 points vs. the Bulls pic.twitter.com/rYyNTUGEqV

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) January 3, 2023