Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell recorded his 59th career 30-point game with Cleveland in Wednesday night’s 135-124 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, passing World B. Free (58) for the second-most 30-point games in franchise history.
Donovan Mitchell trails only LeBron James for the most 30-point games in Cleveland Cavaliers’ history
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James leads Cleveland’s all-time list with a whopping 324 career 30-point games. James is also the franchise’s all-time scoring leader with 23,119 points. Through three seasons with the Cavs, Mitchell ranks 28th overall with 3,830 points.
Through 18 games (all starts) this season, Mitchell is averaging 24.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and a career-low 31.5 minutes per contest while shooting 46.6% from the floor, a career-best 40% from 3-point range, and 82.4% at the free throw line.
With a 30-point performance last night, Donovan Mitchell rises to second in 30+ pts games in Cavaliers franchise history:
1. Lebron James 324
2. Donovan Mitchell 59
3. World B. Free 58#NBA
— NBA Stat (@nbastat.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 7:55 AM
The eight-year veteran ranks 14th in points per game, 11th in points (445), seventh in 3-pointers (66), sixth in 3-point attempts (165), 15th in steals (26), and ninth in usage percentage (31.2%).
On Jan. 2, 2023, Mitchell scored a career-high 71 points in the Cavaliers’ 145-134 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. He scored or assisted on 99 points, the second most in NBA history since Wilt Chamberlain (104). That was Chamberlain’s 100-point outing against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.
Additionally, Mitchell became the seventh player in NBA history to record at least 70 points in a single game. The five-time All-Star joined Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, David Thompson, David Robinson, Kobe Bryant, and Devin Booker.
Cleveland suffered its first loss at home
In Cleveland’s loss to Atlanta on Wednesday night, Mitchell scored a game-high 30 points on 10-of-24 (41.7%) shooting from the field, 4-of-14 (28.6%) from beyond the arc, and 6-of-8 (75%) at the foul line. It was his sixth 30-point game this season and ninth with at least four 3-pointers made.
However, the Cavaliers fell to 17-2 and lost for the first time in 11 home games. Although Cleveland built an early 19-point lead, the Hawks went on to outscore the Cavs 74-60 in the second half.
Cleveland reached the 120-point mark for the 11th time this season, but the squad shot a season-worst 31.3% (15-for-48) from deep. The Cavs’ shooting percentage from the field (46.3%) was also their second lowest.
Defensively, the Cavaliers’ 135 points allowed were a season high as well. Of course, they did not fare any better along the perimeter, surrendering 20 3-pointers. Cleveland gave up a combined 20 triples across its previous two games.
The Cavaliers and Hawks meet again with a “Black Friday” NBA Cup game in Atlanta. The Hawks (2-1) are tied for first in Group C while the Cavs (1-1) have two games left in pool play.
