Former Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson is one of the best scorers in NBA playoff history. It’s safe to say that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell belongs in similar company.
In Games 6 and 7 of the first round against the Orlando Magic, Mitchell combined for 89 points, the second-most in the NBA playoff history behind Iverson. “The Answer” scored 90 points in Games 6 and 7 of the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
More importantly, Mitchell ensured the Cavs avoided a second straight first-round exit. In the first half, Cleveland trailed by 18. Then, Mitchell erupted in the third quarter, scoring 17 points and giving the Cavaliers a 76-68 lead.
Cleveland never looked back, coasting to a 106-94 victory. Mitchell finished with 39 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The victory against Orlando marks the first time Cleveland has won a playoff series since LeBron James left after the 2017-18 season, which should rebuild confidence throughout the organization.
However, Mitchell — whom the Cavs acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz in September 2022 — isn’t satisfied.
“[The Cavs] traded me for more than just winning a first-round series,” Mitchell said following the win, via Hayden Grove of Cleveland.com
The No. 4 seed Cavs will face the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. As of Sunday, FanDuel lists Boston as the favorite to win the series (-1600).
Still, expect the Cavs to give the Celtics a run for their money, especially if Mitchell gets in the zone. Per The Athletic, he’s tied with Iverson for the third-most 50-point games (three) in the playoffs behind Wilt Chamberlain (four) and Michael Jordan (eight).
