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Kendra Andrews, ESPN
CLEVELAND – Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell got just a few hours of sleep the night before Saturday's 97-83 Game 1 win over the Orlando Magic. He knew he needed some rest – especially with the 1pm ET tipoff – but he couldn't let his excitement subside.
So he went for a late night drive. While out, he met two children. They began shouting words of encouragement.
That enthusiasm is why Mitchell said he loves the first playoff game more than anything. And that enthusiasm reflected in his game, as he had another 30-point performance in Game 1.
“It's all about setting the tone,” said Mitchell, who scored 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting. “It's exciting, I love it, it's great, but in the same sense, this is just one game. We're trying to create that atmosphere with this, and now we're going to have to do it a lot. I did.”
This is Mitchell's fifth consecutive time scoring 30 or more points in a Game 1, tying Alex English's record for the sixth longest streak in NBA history and the longest streak among active players. Only Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain have longer streaks.
“He's ready at this point,” Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said. “And it's Game 1. It's a bigger game during the regular season. Like, he has the ability and he understands how important the start is. … Some people think that He may have thoughts, thoughts, and understandings, but he does have the ability to tell time. [again] Go into that space. ”
That space exists outside of the first game.
Mitchell had 21 games with 30 points through his first 45 playoff games. Only two players in the past 40 years have played in more games: Jordan and Allen Iverson.
But that didn't necessarily translate to postseason success. Mitchell's Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in five games in the first round of the playoffs last season. Mitchell has also never made it past the second round.
In his second year in Cleveland, Mitchell was plagued by multiple injuries and appeared in only 55 games. His latest setback, a knee injury, forced him to miss most of March.
Mitchell said he struggled early in his return, but is “getting 1 percent better every day.”
He reiterates that as much as it is necessary to set a policy early, the ability to follow it up on an ongoing basis is even more important.
“This is who I am. That's been my message all year. That's why I'm here,” Mitchell said. “But it's one game…this is me. So now I just have to do it consistently.”
He added: “It's amazing how we won this victory, how we won it, but this is who we are and who we expect.”
In addition to Mitchell's points, the Cavaliers had a career-high 16 points and 11 rebounds from Evan Mobley and 16 points and 18 rebounds from Jarrett Allen. He became the first Cavaliers player since LeBron James to have 15 points and 15 rebounds in a playoff game. Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
This helped overcome Max Strus' lackluster shooting and the team's drought of 18 straight missed 3-pointers and 17 turnovers.
“As long as we are here, please be here in spirit. [our ups and downs] “That's what it was about,” Mitchell said. “We did that tonight, but we've got to have that attitude until we get four wins. Then four more. Then four more. It's great to feel good, but it's only one thing.” You have to do it three more times, then do it again.”
ESPN Stats & Information research contributed to this article.
