The Cleveland Cavaliers were on the verge of contention last season, but it was evident that they still needed another star.
Collin Sexton was playing the best basketball of his career before getting hurt, yet some still had doubts about his ability to take a leap forward.
Then, Donovan Mitchell became available, and they didn’t hesitate to pull off a big trade for him.
Needless to say, that was the right move.
Mitchell is one of the league’s most explosive scorers and one that rises to the occasion every single time his team is in need of a bucket or a big performance.
He proved it again on Sunday night by leading the Cavs to their 49th win of the season, shortly after helping them clinch a playoff berth without LeBron James for the first time since 1998.
Mitchell had his third straight 40+ game, and Cavs fans cannot get enough of him right now.
Donovan Mitchell drops 40.
For the third-straight game.His incredible season continues as the @cavs get win No. 49! pic.twitter.com/JwzahbLMuD
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2023
Donavon Mitchell as a cav pic.twitter.com/xJTyLnRFF4
— WatsonSzn4 (@ClevelandFan223) April 3, 2023
Bucks-Cavs second round is actually gonna be a fire matchup
— Tony Preston (@tonyelgringo12) April 3, 2023
I said watch out for Cavs in the playoffs bc they have a really good squad and I got so much hate lol.. but I stand by it. I like this Cavs team a lot and obviously @spidadmitchell is a hooper
— Spenser Dickerson (@SpenserFX) April 3, 2023
Not an MVP candidate tho apparently…
— Randall J Flack (@randall_jflack) April 3, 2023
the Cavs could be the dark horse in this playoffs 👀
— Mo9hamm9ed (@Mo9ha9mm9ed) April 3, 2023
#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/0Bj9mQ5ZJu
— Cranjis McBasketball👽🛸(49-30) (@2016audiS3skrrt) April 3, 2023
MVP
— Guilherme Fauth (@Gui16Fauth) April 3, 2023
His first season in The Land has been one to remember, averaging a whopping 28 points to go along with 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.6 three-pointers on 48/38/86 shooting.
He’s meshed perfectly alongside Darius Garland, whose numbers haven’t been affected by Mitchell’s proficient scoring and ball dominance at times.
The Cavs currently hold on to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Philadelphia 76ers by just a couple of games.
And while they might not be on the same level as the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks right now, this team could still be a huge dark horse in a seven-game series.
NEXT: Donovan Mitchell Is Looking Forward To Playing 1 Team In The Playoffs