It was a record-breaking night in the NBA on Monday, with both Donovan Mitchell and LeBron James setting new points records. Mitchell, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, scored an impressive 71 points, the highest single-game points total since Kobe Bryant scored 81 against Toronto in 2006. This career-high total is also a franchise record, and according to the NBA, Mitchell is just the seventh player to score 70 or more points in a game. The all-time NBA record for points in a single game is held by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points for the Philadelphia against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.
When asked about his achievement, Mitchell said he was humbled to be included in the record books alongside greats like Chamberlain. "I always believed I could be one of the best players in the league. I’m speechless and blessed to be in the company of that greatness,” he said. Mitchell’s coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, described his performance as "one of the greatest performances in the history of the game.” He added, “Every single play that he made was a play that was necessary. Donovan has never put himself above the team, so how can you not root for a guy like that? I told everyone else to get out of the way.”
While Mitchell’s performance was certainly impressive, he also managed to break LeBron James’ previous Cleveland Cavaliers record of 57 points in a game. James had jointly held that record with Kyrie Irving, but he too made history on Monday with his performance. In scoring 43 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Charlotte Hornets 121-115, James became only the second player aged 35 or older to record back-to-back 40-plus point games.
Overall, it was a fantastic night of basketball, with both Mitchell and James putting in impressive performances and setting new records. It’s clear that both players have a passion for the game and a drive to succeed, and it’s no wonder they are considered two of the best players in the league. As fans, we can only hope to see more exciting and record-breaking performances from both players in the future.
