No player in the NBA has been as deadly in the second half of games this season as Donovan Mitchell, the All-Star who is the beating heart of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Across the first quarter of the season, Mitchell has continually delivered explosive performances coming out of the half-time break, holding the top-three highest second-half scores of 2024-25.
Mitchell continued this form Monday, while helping his squad take revenge against the Boston Celtics, putting the entire Eastern Conference on notice.
MORE: Jared McCain looks like the Stephen Curry of 2024 NBA Draft | How Josh Green is finding his feet alongside LaMelo Ball | JJ Redick has turned Anthony Davis into an MVP candidate
Donovan Mitchell continues impressive streak in Celtics revenge game
It took nearly a month for Cleveland to lose their first game of the season this year, rattling off 15 straight wins before finally falling to the Boston Celtics on November 20.
At half-time of their rematch, it looked like they would get beaten again, and move to three straight losses after dropping back-to-back games against Atlanta.
Donovan Mitchell had just five points in the first half, with the Cavaliers desperately needing the services of their five-time All-Star.
Once the third quarter began, he delivered, scoring 30 points to lead his Cleveland squad to a much-needed victory.
20 of these came in the fourth quarter, as Mitchell and the Cavs outscored the reigning champions 43-27.
His efforts marked the most second-half points scored this season so far, trailed by 23 points by Donovan Mitchell against Washington, and 22 points from Donovan Mitchell in the first Boston match-up.
The win over Boston also extends Cleveland's current lead in the East, moving to 18-3 and 1.5 games ahead of the Celtics as we enter December.