Donovan Mitchell scores team-high 26 points

As with many of his teammates, Mitchell’s season-opening game was a tale of two halves. During the first half, he went off for 22 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line. After halftime, he shot 4-of-10 from the field, scoring 10 points. The Cavs were outscored 69-37 in the second half, losing a game they led by as much as 29. Mitchell’s overall stat line will please fantasy managers, but it could have been even better.

Mitchell played 25 minutes in this exhibition and was able to get off to a hot start, though he didn’t have as much success in his limited second-half action. Mitchell did more playmaking in this game as well and should continue to be a solid source of assists this season, though his dimes did drop off after they traded for James Harden. He’ll have nine days off before the regular season starts for them in Philadelphia next Thursday.

Cleveland had four of its five projected starters available for Thursday’s exhibition opener, with James Harden held out. Mitchell and the other starters logged 17 minutes against the Celtics, which limited their individual stat lines. Mitchell has first-round potential in 12-team leagues, especially since he will start the season with Harden as his backcourt sidekick.

This is a monster extension for Mitchell, and he’ll have a player option for the 2030-31 season. That would have him making north of $75 million when he’s 34 years old. It may not age well, but Cleveland is going to be competitive for at least the next few years, and the commitment to winning could help them lure LeBron James back home.

Mitchell had 31 points on 18 attempts, but was also -23 in 32 minutes as the Cavaliers’ season ended with a 130-93 loss to the Knicks at home in Game 4. Mitchell had four turnovers and James Harden and Evan Mobley combined for eight turnovers. He was named to the All-NBA second-team over the weekend and becomes extension-eligible this summer. Mitchell is headed towards an offseason of uncertainty as questions about the future direction of the team will have to be answered.

Coming off of what he described as the best season of his NBA career, Brown just missed out on first-team All-NBA honors. The Celtics’ star wing was a first-team selection on 44 of 100 ballots, with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham appearing on 60 and finishing with 414 total points to Brown’s 384. Leonard, Mitchell, Durant and Brunson round out the All-NBA second team.

The three players the Cavaliers count on the most offensively struggled with their efficiency in Game 3. Mitchell committed five turnovers, with James Harden and Evan Mobley doing the same. Cleveland’s miscues led to New York scoring 17 fast-break points, besting the Cavaliers by 13 in that category. Mitchell also shot 3-of-10 from beyond the arc, and the inefficiency was too much to overcome in this matchup. For Cleveland to extend the series with a win on Monday, they’ll need a far better version of Mitchell than the one they’ve received in the first three games.

After blowing Game 1, the Cavaliers could not find their stroke in Game 2. Mitchell, who scored 19 points in the second half, was the exception, as Cleveland shot 38.8 percent from the field as a team. New York, which erased a 22-point deficit in the opener, grabbed control of Game 2 with an 18-0 run during the third quarter. Mitchell did what he could to pull the Cavaliers to as close as seven, but the hole was too deep to climb out of completely. While there have been some concerns that he may have tweaked something in his lower body during Game 1, Mitchell said after Thursday’s defeat that he’s fine. The usual explosiveness was not there, but it’s clear that he isn’t going to make any excuses. Cleveland will look to defend home court when it hosts Game 3 on Saturday.

Mitchell was highly productive on Tuesday. In his 41 minutes, he led the Cavaliers in points, was their most productive three-point shooter, and was massive on the defensive end, recording seven stocks. Yet Mitchell and his teammates struggled to generate enough two-way production to protect a 22-point fourth-quarter lead, which led to an overtime period and an eventual loss for the Cavaliers. Mitchell shot 1-of-6 and tallied two total points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. He’ll have a chance to bounce back and help Cleveland try to even the series on Thursday.

Mitchell and the Cavaliers are headed to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 after a dominant showing in Game 7. He rebounded from a poor Game 6, not only as a scorer but as a playmaker. After recording three assists on Friday, Mitchell was responsible for eight in Game 7 while committing three turnovers. He and the other Cavaliers were able to get into the paint early and often, which opened up everything offensively for them. Game 1 of the conference finals is on Tuesday in New York.