The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 135-119 road win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, as Donovan Mitchell recorded 43 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four three-pointers on 16-for-27 shooting from the field in 34 minutes of action.
Mitchell has already notched two 40-point games in the last three games, leaving Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson concerned about his workload.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing. I don’t like that process where we have to rely on him so much. It kind of is what it is. We had a little text exchange before the game, I said you gotta go for 40 tonight. I’ve never said that to a player,” Atkinson said of Mitchell.
“If he takes 30 shots, I’m good with it. Sometimes you just gotta… And if he takes five or six bad ones, we’re good with it. I never said that to him or any player, but we kinda felt that we needed it tonight. Just had to get the W,” he added.
Cleveland Cavaliers News: Donovan Mitchell sends stern reminder after beating the Indiana Pacers
Before beating the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers were on a three-game losing streak, so Donovan Mitchell was more relieved than satisfied with last night’s result.
“Honestly, this is what we should be doing. I don’t think this is anything to celebrate…. We should be coming out here doing this all the time, that’s what’s disappointing about the past three games,” Mitchell said in his postgame interview.
Mitchell received enough help from his teammates, as Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Tyrese Proctor added 27, 13, 13, and 12 points, respectively.
