Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell Scores 30+ For Fifth Time This Season

Cleveland's star guard scored a game-high 34 points in the Cavaliers' 109-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

The Cleveland Cavaliers split their four-game Western Conference road trip with a 109-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

Cleveland’s offensive effort was spearheaded by star guard Donovan Mitchell, who scored a game-high 34 points.

He also recorded his most efficient shooting performance of the season, shooting season-bests of 65.0% (13-for-20) from the field and 62.5% (5-for-8) from three-point range.

Mitchell also tallied a season-best +22 plus/minus, while adding six rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

With this showing, the 27-year-old has now scored at least 30 points in half of his 10 games played so far this season.

Nov 15, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looks for an opening during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center / © Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

He ended up doing his most damage in the second quarter, scoring a game-high 10 second-quarter points on 4-of-6 shooting and converting on both of his three-point attempts. 

Mitchell scored 17 points in the first half, as the Cavaliers had a 55-47 halftime lead.

In the second half, he led Cleveland in scoring in both the third and fourth quarter.

After the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers each scored 28 points in the third period, Mitchell scored a game-high nine fourth-quarter points on 4-of-5 shooting, while converting one of his two three-point attempts.

Like the first half, he also recorded 17 points in the second half.

After Mitchell said some tough words about both himself and the team this past Monday following Cleveland’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, his performance tonight was praised by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“I thought he wanted to make sure that we did the right things to win the game. He scored when he needed to. He facilitated, he rebounded, he defended. I think he set the tone [and] showed great leadership.”

Up next, the Cavaliers will head home to play their second NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.