SI

Donovan Mitchell Offers Funny Apology After Nearly Posting Triple-Double in Cavs' Win

The Cleveland guard did almost everything right Wednesday.

Patrick Andres

Donovan Mitchell dribbles during the Cavaliers' 114–106 win over the 76ers on Nov. 13, 2024.
Donovan Mitchell dribbles during the Cavaliers' 114–106 win over the 76ers on Nov. 13, 2024. / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell pushed all the right buttons in his team's 114–106 win over the Philadelphia 76ers ... except for one.

Mitchell scored 23 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, and dished out nine assists, leaving him one dime shy of his first career triple-double. With less than two minutes to go and the Cavaliers nursing a seven-point lead, Mitchell drove aggressively to the basket—only to pass out of a wide-open look to center Evan Mobley in the corner.

In his postgame interview, Mitchell laughed and apologized to Cleveland fans for his attempt to stat-pad.

"Cavs fans, I'm sorry, I should've put the game away earlier," Mitchell said. "That was a selifsh moment, I ain't gonna lie. That's on me. I haven't had one in my career, almost lost us the game doing that. That was a selfish moment, it won't happen again, and I apologize."

Here, via Tony Pesta of Fear the Sword, is a video of Mitchell's ill-fated pass.

Guard Darius Garland chuckled when asked about Mitchell's moment postgame.

At 13-0, the Cavaliers are off to the NBA's best start in nine years.

More of the Latest Around the NBA

feed

Published
Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

Home/NBA