The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell scored a franchise-record 71 points in a win over Eastern Conference rivals Chicago Bulls.
He finished the game with 71 points on 22-34 from the field, 20-25 from the line, and 7-15 from long range. He also tacked on eight rebounds and 11 assists.
Not only did Mitchell break Cleveland’s team record of 57 points, set on separate occasions by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but it was the highest-scoring game any NBA player has had since Bryant’s 81 points in 2006.
He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, David Robinson, Elgin Baylor, and Devin Booker in the illustrious 70-point club. It was also the first 70-point 10-assist game in NBA history.
It was the 12th 70-point game in NBA history, as Chamberlain reached that figure six times.
Mitchell is averaging a career-high 28 points per game while flirting with 50-40-90 shooting split. This game was the crown jewel of his incredible season, the best game of not only his own career, but one of the best any player has ever had in the history of basketball.
