In a high-stakes matchup, Donovan Mitchell’s 40-point eruption propelled the Cleveland Cavaliers (10-8) to a resounding 128-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks (8-9) in the NBA In-Season Tournament.
Despite Mitchell’s stellar performance and Evan Mobley’s impressive 17 points, career-high 19 rebounds, and seven blocks, the Cavs fell short of advancing to the knockout round due to point differential, edged out by the New York Knicks.
Finishing pool play with a 3-1 record, the Cavs demonstrated resilience, especially as Mitchell delivered his best performance in weeks, shooting 14 of 25 from the field and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Darius Garland contributed 19 points, complementing Mitchell’s offensive onslaught, while the Cavs effectively contained the high-scoring Hawks, limiting them to 105 points after their 152-point game last week.
Mitchell, who had struggled in his recent outings, ignited the comeback with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from 41 feet at the end of the first quarter, setting the tone for his exceptional performance.
