Donovan Mitchell spoke candidly following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 124-89 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Intuit Dome, the first game after the blockbuster James Harden-Darius Garland trade.
“It’s been a lot,” Mitchell said on the emotions of the past 48 hours. “It felt like we haven’t played in forever. There’s just so much that’s going on. For us as a group, the fact that we came out here and did what we did was impressive.”
Mitchell acknowledged Garland’s impact on Cleveland. “When you lose obviously Darius, you lose a guy who’s a brother. Those are emotional moments… but this is the business side of it.” He emphasized the team’s unity despite roster changes. “For him to be able to come out here and talk to us… that’s a guy who will forever be our brother.”
Turning to Harden, Mitchell outlined the potential impact. “This is an opportunity for us to go out there and our ceiling is definitely higher when you have a guy like James Harden,” he said. “He brings scoring, playmaking, and experience from playoff games and the NBA Finals. Our goal is to try to get it done now.”
Mitchell highlighted the psychological boost of adding a future Hall of Famer. “When you have a guy that can get into the paint, get the bigs involved, score at the rate he does, and find guys… sky’s the limit,” he said. He also noted the team’s additional new pieces, including Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, as part of building depth around Harden.
Reflecting on Garland’s development, Mitchell praised his progress. “To go from being statistically one of the worst to a two-time All-Star… that speaks to him. I have no doubt what he’ll bring to Los Angeles with Ty Lue and Kawhi.”
Mitchell also discussed his own approach on the court. “People say I’m a small guard… being smaller makes it more impressive,” he said. “I try not to rely so much on athleticism and focus on doing little things to save my body, but when I have to get up there and finish, I do it.”
Cleveland dominated the Clippers behind Mitchell’s 29 points and nine assists, Jaylon Tyson’s 17 points, and Jarrett Allen’s 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Cavaliers shot 51% from the field, made 16 three-pointers, and forced 24 turnovers, converting them into 47 points. New acquisitions Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis added 11 and six points, respectively.
Los Angeles struggled offensively, shooting just 21.4% from three-point range and committing 24 turnovers. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 25 points, while John Collins added 19. The Clippers were without Ivica Zubac due to the birth of his child, limiting their interior defense.
Cleveland improved to 30-21, climbing to fifth in the Eastern Conference, while the Clippers fell to 23-26. The Cavaliers continue their road trip at Sacramento on Saturday.
