Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell shouldered the blame following his team’s 119-111 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, December 14. “I had one of those nights on a night when in a situation I’m not allowed to have one of those nights… if I play better, we win that game,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell highlighted rebounding and execution as areas for improvement. “I think they had two guys with double digits [in rebounds]. I don’t think we have one… we got to finish possessions,” he said, emphasizing the need for full effort on every play.
The guard praised Darius Garland’s leadership amid injury struggles. “See what DG’s going through… he gets to the bench and he’s ringing everybody up, getting the energy up,” Mitchell said, noting Garland’s impact on team morale despite playing through pain.
Mitchell also discussed the challenge of maintaining consistent performance and habits. “It’s upsetting… we get there 75% of the time or 85%, but that little 15% changes everything,” he said, pointing to small lapses on both ends that can swing games.
He stressed the importance of versatile teammates like Dean Wade in adjusting to lineup changes. “He’s invaluable… even when shots aren’t falling, he’s continuously finding a way to get in there… guarding, rebounding, making plays,” Mitchell said, noting Wade’s ability to guard multiple positions and space the floor.
The Cavaliers rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to force overtime but failed to score in the extra period. Mitchell finished with 17 points on 6-of-24 shooting, while Darius Garland added 26 points and nine assists. Jarrett Allen managed nine points and three rebounds, and Cleveland continues to cope without Evan Mobley.
Mitchell reflected on learning through adversity and maintaining a positive team mindset. “Some of it is injuries… but we are choosing not to use the injuries as an excuse… the only way we get out of this is us doing that as a group together,” he said, emphasizing accountability and unity in the locker room.
Cleveland’s young players also drew praise for stepping up under pressure. Mitchell singled out Jaylon Tyson for his performance off the bench, recording 16 points and 13 rebounds while adapting to new roles without ego.
The Hornets were led by rookie Kon Knueppel’s 29 points, Brandon Miller’s 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Miles Bridges’ 20 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland will look to regroup on Wednesday in Chicago as they aim to regain consistency and execution in upcoming games.
