If the most important for Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers were obviously to win against Philadelphia and thus maintain their historic series, the rear wanted to combine business with pleasure. How ? By achieving the first triple-double of his career. When ? At the end of the last quarter.
The former Jazz back then had 9 assists on his clock since the start of the last act. In the first moments of the last quarter, he had already given in to temptation. He had overwhelmed his defender and arrived two meters from the circle. The shooting window was clearly open but he finally decided to take it out to 3-point.
At the end of the game, it's even more obvious. He brings the ball up and after a “spin move” goes to the circle for two very easy points. But at the last moment, he makes a pass to Evan Mobley at 3-point, who himself is surprised by this choice, being caught on the wrong foot.
“I'm not going to lie. It’s been eight years”, he confesseshe who has never managed a triple-double in 481 matches. “Making a pass on a completely open dunk is a sign. That's not me. That's why I didn't get my triple-double. You can't be rewarded when you're not yourself. »
“It’s November, we haven’t won the title yet”
Donovan Mitchell was greedy, wanting the victory and the triple-double, butter and butter. “It was selfish,” he continues. “I apologize to the Cavaliers fans, to my teammates. I thought about myself first, contrary to what I preach. »
He made amends with his three award-winning baskets in 100 seconds, in the last three minutes, to dismiss the Sixers. Finally, he finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds (tied career record) and 9 assists.
This anecdote will quickly be forgotten and the main thing is elsewhere for him and his gang: even if it was hard, the Cavaliers kept their series alive with a perfect 13-0.
“That’s what we want. To be the best, you have to beat the best. To be the best, you have to be there every night. It's a mental question. Do we want to be the best? Are we satisfied? We're on the hunt but it's also only November.” tempers Cleveland's leading scorer. “I repeat it to everyone. It's November, we haven't won the title yet. But they are good tests. »
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 79 | 33 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 77 | 34 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 69 | 34 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 53 | 33 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 67 | 34 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 68 | 36 | 48.4 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 28.3 |
| 2023-24 | KEY | 55 | 35 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 26.6 |
| 2024-25 | KEY | 11 | 30 | 46.8 | 40.5 | 85.7 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 22.5 |
| Total | 479 | 34 | 45.0 | 36.7 | 84.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
