The narratives followed Donovan Mitchell for most of his NBA career: He was going to end up with the New York Knicks.
The small-market Utah Jazz, and a trade to the small-market Cleveland Cavaliers? Those were viewed by many national analysts as just stepping stones to Madison Square Garden.
Not to Mitchell, though. That’s never been important to him.
Mitchell embraces those who embrace him, and that’s what happened first in Salt Lake City and now on the shores of Lake Erie.
He showed his loyalty to Cleveland by signing a contract extension to prove he was going nowhere, and on Monday night, when the Cavs needed Mitchell to show why he was worthy of that deal, he delivered to lead Cleveland to a tied 2-2 series with the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
A quiet first half — just four points, and a bunch of misses — didn’t matter. Mitchell came out of the phone booth in the third quarter and took the game over.
He scored 21 points in the third, tying a franchise playoff record previously held by Kyrie Irving. He didn’t slow down much in the fourth, either, with 18 more.
DONOVAN MITCHELL IN THE 3RD QUARTER:
21 POINTS8/9 FGM2/3 3PM3/3 FTM
ONLY 7 MINUTES. 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/7Z3Ccx6D3Y
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 12, 2026
By the final frame, Cleveland fans were chanting ‘M-V-P’ as Mitchell knocked down free throws.
In all, Mitchell scored 39 points in the second half. That tied the all-time playoff record for a half, now joining Sleepy Floyd atop that list.
Mitchell got to that mark with one final free throw that the Cavs probably wished he never had to shoot — the benchwarmers nearly blew the game, and Kenny Atkinson had to turn back to his starters, who did close it out successfully. The only blemish on Mitchell’s night was that he missed the second of the two freebies he had there, so he didn’t pass Floyd, instead rimming in and out.
This is the version of Mitchell who is trying to rewrite his story. He’s always made the playoffs in the NBA. He’s never made it past the second round.
And so with each second-half bucket, Mitchell was trying to push that monkey off his back. He’s two wins away still, but he’s proving he might just have what it takes, and that he didn’t need to go anywhere else to do so.
Maybe the bright lights of New York City looked to some like they beckoned for Mitchell.
But for Donovan himself? Cleveland is right where he belongs.
Donovan Mitchell stats
These were the final stats on Monday night for Mitchell:
- 43 points
- 13-26 FG
- 4-12 3FG
- 13-15 FT
- 5 rebounds
- 2 assists
- 1 steal
- 1 turnover
- Plus-27
It was the eighth 40-point game of his playoff career, and maybe the most magnificent.
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