DONOVAN Mitchell scored a career-high 71 points, the NBA’s single-game best since Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance in January 2006, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied past the visiting Chicago Bulls 145-134 in overtime on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Mitchell’s performance sets a Cavaliers franchise record, is tied for the eighth-most points in an NBA game and puts him in company with just five other players in NBA history to score 71 points or more in a contest: Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor and David Robinson.
With the Cavaliers trailing 130-127 after a pair of Coby White free throws with 7.4 seconds remaining, Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu sent Mitchell to the foul line. Mitchell made the first, then after intentionally missing the second, chased down the carom for a putback to force a 130-130 tie and send the game to the extra period.
Cleveland capitalized on the momentum in overtime, holding Chicago scoreless for the period’s first 3:55. DeMar DeRozan finally broke the dry spell with the final two of his 44 points, but the Cavaliers were in firm control at that juncture. DeRozan’s 44-point effort was his fourth game of 41 points or more this season. Zach LaVine added 26 points and Nikola Vucevic registered 20 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
In other games, it was the Warriors 143, Hawks 141 (2OT); Nets 139, Spurs 103; Lakers 121, Hornets 115; Knicks 102, Suns 83; Mavs 111, Rockets 106; Heat 110, Clippers 100; Wolves 124, Nuggets 111; Pacers 122, Raptors 114; Sixers 120, Pelicans 111; and Blazers 135, Pistons 106.
Warriors 143, Hawks 141 (2OT)
Klay Thompson poured in a season-high 54 points and Kevon Looney capped a 20-rebound night with a tip-in at the final buzzer as Golden State outlasted Atlanta in a double-overtime victory at San Francisco.
Thompson’s 54 points were the second most of his career. After a Trae Young floater tied the game with eight seconds left in the second extra session, the Warriors went to Thompson, who misfired on a straightaway 3-point attempt. Looney got a hand on the high carom, tapped it off the glass, then retrieved it himself to lay it in for a hoop that survived a video review.
Looney finished with 14 points to go with his game-high 20 rebounds, 10 of which came on the offensive end. In losing for the fourth consecutive time, four Hawks recorded double-doubles, led by Young’s 30 points and game-high 14 assists. Dejounte Murray added 25 points and 10 rebounds, while John Collins also had 25 points to go along with 13 boards. — Field Level Media
