Donovan Mitchell stats vs. Magic: Cavaliers star adds to playoff legacy with standout showing in Game 7 win

David Suggs

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Donovan Mitchell stats vs. Magic: Cavaliers star adds to playoff legacy with standout showing in Game 7 win image

The Cavaliers were in desperate need of a hero during their Game 7 matchup with the Magic. They got a Spida, instead.

Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell added to his glittering postseason legacy with a showcase for the ages against Orlando's relentless defense, pouring in shot after shot en route to a Game 7 victory. J.B. Bickerstaff's squad looked cast adrift during the early portions of Sunday's game, struggling to find a rhythm amid the Magic's persistent pressure.

Mitchell refused to stop shooting, however. Soon, those efforts that caromed off the iron earlier in the day began nestling calmly into the basket.

MORE: Celtics vs. Cavaliers prediction, odds, schedule for 2024 NBA Playoffs second-round series

Spida dropped another 30-piece to push the Cavaliers to victory. He made history in the process, too. Here's a closer look at Mitchell's Game 7 heroics.

MORE: Cavs-Celtics series preview, prediction

Donovan Mitchell stats vs. Magic in Game 7

Mitchell registered 39 points to propel Cleveland beyond fifth-seeded Orlando. He showed off a wide array of tricks to create space for himself, employing Shammgods, crossovers, and in-and-outs to get to the cup.

He finished the day sinking 11-of-27 field goal attempts. He added 15 points at the charity stripe.

Below is a full look at Mitchell's Game 7 stat line:

Stat Total
Points 39
Rebounds 9
Assists 5
Steals 1
Blocks 1
Turnovers 1
FG % (FGM/FGA) 40.7 (11/27)
3-point % (FMG/FGA) 25 (2/8)
Free throw % (FTM/FTA) 88.2 (15/17)

It wasn't the most efficient day for Mitchell, whose 40.7-percent shooting rate fell well below his regular season average of 46.2 percent. However, the devil was in the details for Spida. He struggled to put the ball in the basket efficiently in the first half, hitting just three of his 13 shot attempts as Jalen Suggs shadowed him across the court.

The second half was a different story, though. Mitchell sank 8-of-14 shots as Cleveland overcame an 18-point deficit to catch up — and eventually, surpass — its first-round foes.

All told, Mitchell ended the second half with 24 points. His scoring outburst, coupled with an impressive third-quarter showcase by Max Strus, helped put the game out of reach for the Magic.

Mitchell's scoring explosion wasn't just a moment. It was one in a series of playoff stormers Mitchell has put up since entering the league in the 2017 NBA Draft.

With 39 points on Sunday, Mitchell dropped 89 points in Games 6 and 7. That's the second-highest total in NBA history, trailing only the 90 points Sixers guard Allen Iverson dropped against the Bucks in the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals.

All of that amounted to a stunning showcase on basketball's biggest stage. Cavaliers fans were more than chuffed at the prospect of such a performance taking place.

Donovan Mitchell playoff stats

Mitchell has always elevated his game when the lights are bright. This postseason is no exception. Despite nursing a knee injury, Mitchell is averaging 28.7 points per game, the eighth-best mark in the NBA. He's done so while remaining fairly efficient, sinking 45.8 percent of his shot attempts.

He's been especially effective inside the arc, coming into Sunday's contest sinking 58 percent of his two-point field goal attempts. By comparison, Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic, players that far outreach Mitchell, are sporting two-point field goal shooting of 48.9 and 53.5 percent, respectively.

Below is a look at Mitchell's per-game stats for the 2024 NBA playoffs through seven games.

Stat Total
Points 28.7
Rebounds 5.0
Assists 4.4
Steals 1.4
Blocks 0.4
Turnovers 3.4
FG % 45.8
3-point % 25.0

Mitchell and the Cavs will face quite the test in the second round, dueling against the top-seeded Celtics. However, when you have Mitchell, you have a chance. He proved so today against formidable competition.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.