Donovan Mitchell exploded for a fourth quarter that carried the Cavaliers to a dramatic comeback, totaling the season’s highest scoring final period with 24 points.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a 15-point hole entering the final quarter against one of the NBA’s weaker teams, Mitchell pushed with a sense of urgency, declaring, “Be aggressive. We can’t afford to lose this one after the break.” He poured in 24 of his 48 points in the last period, helping Cleveland rally to a 130-126 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night. Both teams had taken a five-day休息, and the Cavaliers struggled from long range, shooting 15 of 53 from beyond the arc. Mitchell’s efficient 8-for-15 three-point shooting kept them in the game and preserved a rally that pushed his team to victory.
The Wizards dropped to 3-20 on the season.
Mitchell opened the fourth by scoring 11 points in just under three minutes, eventually delivering the season’s best fourth-quarter scoring output so far, eclipsing Orlando’s Jett Howard, who had 22 on November 23 against Boston.
Mitchell now leads the league with an average of 9.6 points per game in the final period.
“You’re facing a team that’s just 3-something, you’re down 15, you can fold, right?,” Mitchell reflected. “But we found a way.”
Cleveland’s comeback looked unlikely after a third period in which they allowed 40 points, leaving them 100-85 behind as the fourth began. Mitchell tied the game at 122 with a key three and then scored inside in the closing minute to reclaim the lead.
One pivotal moment came when the 6-foot-3 guard collided with 6-foot-11 Marvin Bagley III on a jump ball. Both players misjudged the timing, but the ball landed with Lonzo Ball of Cleveland, who converted two free throws with 30.9 seconds left, restoring a four-point cushion.
Mitchell could, on one hand, choose to focus on the bright finish, while acknowledging the troubling deficit that preceded it.
“I can’t let this happen again. We have to figure this out,” he said.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Noah Trister
The Associated Press
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