On January 2, 2023, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell delivered a historic 71-point performance against the Chicago Bulls, etching his name alongside elite NBA scorers. Speaking to reporters after the game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, Mitchell made a surprising pre-game admission about his mindset before the offensive explosion.
The Pre-Game Admission That Preceded a Historic Night
Hours before tip-off at 7:00 PM EST, Donovan Mitchell confessed to his teammates and coaching staff that he was physically exhausted. According to post-game reports from ESPN and official NBA data, the star guard felt the heavy toll of a compressed regular-season schedule. Yet, that fatigue evaporated the moment the game started. Mitchell went on to score 71 points, grab 8 rebounds, and dish out 11 assists, powering the Cavaliers to a dramatic 145-134 overtime victory.
Breaking Down the 71-Point Scoring Outburst
Mitchell’s stat line places him in rare company in NBA history. He shot 22-of-34 from the field, including 7-of-15 from three-point range, and converted 20-of-25 free throws. According to league records, it was the highest-scoring single-game performance in the NBA since Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006. It also set a new franchise record for the Cavaliers, surpassing the previous mark of 57 points shared by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
How the Cavaliers Secured the Overtime Win
The Cavaliers needed every single one of Mitchell’s points to outlast the Bulls in a game that required an extra period. Down by two points in the final seconds of regulation, Mitchell intentionally missed his second free throw, chased down his own rebound, and floated a desperate shot into the basket to tie the game at 130-130, forcing overtime. Cleveland dominated the extra frame outscoring Chicago 15-4. Chicago was led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored 44 points, and Zach LaVine, who added 26 points, but the visitors could not contain Mitchell’s historic offensive surge.
What This Means for Cleveland’s Season
The thrilling victory pushed the Cavaliers further up the competitive Eastern Conference standings, solidifying their position as direct contenders for a top playoff seed. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his guard’s resilience and unselfish play after the final buzzer, noting that Mitchell consistently found open teammates despite taking 34 shots. The Cavaliers look to carry this momentum into their next matchup on the regular-season schedule as they navigate a demanding January window.
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