Donovan Mitchell turned some online trash talk into a season-high performance Wednesday night. The Cleveland guard poured in 46 points on 15-of-21 shooting, added eight assists and four rebounds in 35 minutes, and helped the Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 132-121.
Mitchell was red-hot from deep, hitting six triples (54.5% from beyond the arc) and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. His 15-of-21 night equaled a 71.4% shooting clip, tying the highest field-goal percentage in a 45-plus point game in Cavs history.
After the game Mitchell explained the motivation: he had been playing NBA 2K earlier and an opponent told him he was “washed up” and that they “ain’t seen a highlight from me in a minute.” Mitchell laughed it off and used it as fuel on the court, even saying he wanted to give the gamer — “kid or grown man” — a shoutout for the inspiration.
The outburst marked Mitchell’s 20th 40-point game with the Cavaliers, the second-most in franchise history behind LeBron James. The performance was full of highlight plays and efficiency, and Mitchell made sure to dedicate the night to the online player who doubted him.
Mitchell didn’t get into specifics about his virtual earnings or how the matchup unfolded online, but the result was clear: a dominant, efficient scoring night that reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the game’s premier scorers.
