Donovan Mitchell like Curry and Shai: “We have to get better every day”
Against a physical defense like Orlando’s, Mitchell takes over with authority. Cleveland wins and regains confidence around its go-to guy
When the Cleveland Cavaliers need a spark, the answer is almost always the same: Donovan Mitchell. Against the Orlando Magic, on a night that demanded leadership and offensive production, Spida delivered a monster 45-point performance, leading the Cavs to a 114-98 victory.
With Darius Garland still sidelined, Cleveland’s offense inevitably runs through Mitchell’s hands. More possessions, more responsibility – but also more chances to make an impact. And on Monday night, Mitchell made the most of every opportunity, once again proving to be the engine of the team during this difficult stretch of the season.
Mitchell alongside Steph Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The game against Orlando marked Mitchell’s third 45+ point outing of the season, a milestone that puts him in elite company with Stephen Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the only players to reach that mark as often this NBA season, as reported by the league’s official account.
It’s a stat that reinforces the perception of Mitchell as one of the league’s top players this year – not just for scoring volume, but for consistency and real impact on wins.
Mitchell’s words: “What matters is getting better every day”
After the game, Mitchell focused less on his scoring and more on defense:
We held them under 100 points, and that’s huge for us as a group. I’m not thinking about winning streaks. We have to find a way to get better every day. It’s time to do our job. We dug ourselves a deep hole.
Donovan Mitchell
A quote that perfectly captures where the Cavs are right now: aware of their struggles, but determined to reset by starting with the fundamentals.
How sustainable is a Mitchell-dependent Cleveland?
Cleveland is asking a lot of Donovan Mitchell – night after night, with little margin for rest. Questions about sustainability remain, especially as long as the injury list stays crowded. At the same time, when a player is in this kind of form, slowing things down might be a mistake.
As long as Mitchell’s hand stays hot, the Cavs have no choice but to ride their leader. And performances like this one show that, at least for now, he’s more than ready to carry the load.