It was a night to remember for Donovan Mitchell. On Friday, the former Louisville star exploded for a game-high 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a crucial win in their second-round playoff series.
Despite entering the postseason as the top seed in the Eastern Conference after a 64-win regular season, the Cavaliers fell into a 2-0 hole against the Indiana Pacers. But Mitchell refused to let Cleveland drop a third straight game.
He was relentless, attacking from start to finish and delivered in the clutch to keep the Cavaliers’ hopes alive.
As he walked off the court and headed toward the locker room, Mitchell was asked about the mindset heading into Game 4. He responded with just five words:
“We’ve got to repeat this,” he said.
🗣️ “We’ve got to repeat this”
Donovan Mitchell postgame after tonight’s road win… Game 4 is Sunday at 8pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/EiRzdfgkRY
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2025
Mitchell played 37 minutes and scored his 43 points on 14-of-29 shooting from the field and 10-of-14 from the free-throw line. He also added nine rebounds and five assists in one of the most memorable performances of the postseason.
The NBA highlighted the historical context of the game, noting:
“Donovan Mitchell joins LeBron James as the only Cavaliers to drop back-to-back 40-point games in the playoffs”
Donovan Mitchell joins LeBron James as the only Cavaliers to drop back-to-back 40-point games in the playoffs 🎯#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google https://t.co/unrFiAHLYWpic.twitter.com/ilk2Ron6IE
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2025
A first-round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Mitchell averaged 24 points and five assists per game during the regular season. This is his third year in Cleveland after spending five seasons with the Utah Jazz.
Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan MitchellMandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
He’s now posted eight straight seasons averaging over 20 points per game. His 71 appearances this season marked his highest total since playing 77 games in his second year in the league.
Game 4 will also be played in Indianapolis, scheduled for Sunday night. After that, the series shifts back to Cleveland for a pivotal Game 5.
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