Kenny Atkinson says Donovan Mitchell should be ‘in MVP conversation’
last saturday Cavaliers dominated Magic for the first time thanks to high-level performance Donovan Mitchellauthor of 36 points, including 27 in the second half. This Monday, the two teams met again and Orlando wanted to fight. Jamal Mosley’s men took control of the contest early and were ten points ahead after twelve minutes.
Donovan Mitchell already had 10 points at the end of the first quarter and raised the tone in the second by scoring 16 units. A minute before the break, he showed his vivacity: first a left-handed layup after outplaying Paolo Banchero, then a mid-range shot beyond Noah Penda.
“We were in a similar situation in Philadelphia: we had a big win, and they were more aggressive the next night.”remembers Donovan Mitchell. “I try to be a leader and set the tone. Sometimes I have to score. Sometimes I have to pass the ball.”
After him, Cleveland returned to the locker room with a five-point lead. After the break, however, Donovan Mitchell didn’t let up the pressure: he opened the second period with an ‘and-one’ (2+1), followed up with a 3-pointer in transition, then attacked the circle again on the next possession to finish in the paint.
The Cavaliers are moving forward
“He understands the dynamics of the team and what we need from him”explains Kenny Atkinson. “We needed his 45 points tonight or we probably wouldn’t have won. I don’t watch every other team, but I can’t imagine him not being one of the top three players in the league. The fact that he’s not in the MVP conversation confuses me: He’s having an incredible season.”
In the last quarter, Donovan Mitchell managed more and was satisfied with 7 points, including a shot from the middle that gave the Cavaliers ten points in the air. Cleveland ended up winning 114-98, and the six-time All-Star finished the night with 45 points on 15/25 shooting, 5/8 3-pointers, as well as 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Cavaliers have won their fourth straight before hosting the Lakers on Wednesday. In this series, Donovan Mitchell averaged 34.5 points and 6.8 assists: enough to further strengthen his record which should get him to the All-Star Game from Los Angeles, February 15.
“I’m not thinking about a winning streak. The goal is to be better match after match. We have to prove ourselves against the Lakers. We’ve put ourselves in a difficult situation, so we’re looking for solutions to get out of it.” he concludes as the Cavs (28-20) move to No. 5 in the Eastern Conference.
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| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | UTA | 79 | 33:24 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTA | 77 | 33:44 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | UTA | 69 | 34:16 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 | UTA | 53 | 33:25 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | UTA | 67 | 33:49 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 | CLE | 68 | 35:46 | 48.4 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 28.3 |
| 2023-24 | CLE | 55 | 35:19 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 26.6 |
| 2024-25 | CLE | 71 | 31:26 | 44.3 | 36.8 | 82.3 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2025-26 | CLE | 43 | 34:10 | 48.2 | 38.0 | 84.0 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 29.1 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-27 08:46:00
