<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-new-role');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell embraces new role in relentless pursuit of a championship');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Donovan-Mitchell-embraces-new-role-in-relentless-pursuit-of-a-championship.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell embraces new role in relentless pursuit of a championship</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T09:48:28-07:00">April 3rd, 9:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T09:48:28-07:00">April 3rd, 9:48am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell used to think that scoring was everything. It’s not surprising—when you’re known as one of the NBA’s <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*15&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=-1&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" rel="noopener">most electric offensive threats</a>, pouring in points becomes second nature. But <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-priorities-60-win">something has changed this season for the Cavs superstar</a>. Something more profound and mature has taken hold, driven by one simple yet daunting goal: winning an NBA championship.</p><p>Mitchell keeps his personal goals on his cell phone—a constant reminder of what he wants to achieve. Other than winning a championship, one of those goals is more personal. Becoming a more complete player, starting with rebounding. In <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-playoff-preparations-test-knicks">Cleveland’s game against</a> the New York Knicks, he pulled down six boards—a step closer to his benchmark. But the numbers only tell part of the story.</p><p>“For years, I always thought you just scored,” Mitchell said after putting up 27 against New York. “I’m not gonna lie. Y’all have seen it in my play at times, especially early in my career. It’s all I knew. This was all new to me. Like, I didn’t expect to be Donovan Mitchell.”</p><p>The Cavs traded for Mitchell with one expectation: score and keep scoring. And he’s delivered, averaging over 25 points per game since arriving in Cleveland. Yet, as the Cavs pursue a title, they need more from their star than just buckets. Fortunately, Mitchell is embracing that challenge head-on.</p><h2><b>Leading the Cavs by example</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Donovan-Mitchell-celebrates-Cavs-Pregame.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In a recent matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, Mitchell’s impact transcended scoring. He ripped down 12 rebounds, helping to neutralize the bruising presence of Ivica Zubac, who had tormented Cleveland’s front line in a previous meeting. On another night, his three blocks sparked the Cavs during a sluggish stretch, showcasing his commitment to defense and effort plays that don’t always make the highlight reel.</p><p>Mitchell’s willingness to sacrifice his scoring instincts for hustle and defense marks a seismic shift in his approach. Long known for his offensive brilliance, he’s now making his presence felt on the boards and in the paint—areas once considered weak spots in his game. His athleticism and wingspan, combined with a newfound determination, are now being used to bolster Cleveland’s defensive identity.</p><p>“He’s leading it,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said when asked about Mitchell doing the little things. “He backs it up. He’s on the guys in the huddle, and there’s no question who our leader is. He’s leading by example right now, doing the dirty work.”</p><p>It’s a stark contrast from his earlier years, where defensive lapses often overshadowed his offensive heroics in the postseason. This time around, Mitchell seems to understand that championship basketball demands more than scoring explosions. It requires sacrifice, grit, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to secure a win.</p><h2><b>A mentor’s influence led to Donovan Mitchell’s evolution</b></h2><p>Mitchell’s transformation didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen alone. A key figure behind this evolution is associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, a mentor and motivator who knows Mitchell better than anyone in the league. Their bond was forged in Utah when Bryant was instrumental in shaping Mitchell’s early career. Now, reunited in Cleveland, Bryant has played a pivotal role in pushing Mitchell to expand his game.</p><p>“I got to give Johnnie a lot of credit in that (role change) too,” Mitchell said. “He was pretty much the first person to kind of bring it to me. Because as a head coach, you delegate to the other coaches and whatnot. So he was like, ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to look like’. And it wasn’t really a question.</p><p>“It wasn’t really like, ‘Hey, are you cool?’ That’s just the relationship we have. It’s more like, ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to be and this is what’s going to help take us to the next level.’ And I trust that guy with everything, man. That’s more than just a coach, that’s a brother, that’s family. That’s somebody that I trust with just life, let alone just basketball.”</p><p>Bryant’s tough love has been crucial. Whether it’s tearing into Mitchell at halftime for playing too casually or challenging him to make winning plays beyond just scoring, Bryant has been unafraid to confront his star. It’s the kind of accountability that Mitchell has not only accepted but embraced.</p><p>“There are times during the game where I hear him cuss me out and my teammates be like, ‘Bro, he’s tripping.’ I’m like, no, this is just Thursday,” Mitchell joked. “I appreciate that. I thrive off that and really thrive off coaching in that regard.”</p><h2><b>A Wine and Gold winner’s mindset</b></h2><p>As the playoffs loom, Mitchell knows that his scoring will still be crucial for the Cavs, especially against Eastern Conference powerhouses like the Boston Celtics. But his newfound versatility could be the difference between another early exit and a legitimate title run.</p><p>He’s learned that leadership isn’t just about putting up points. It’s about finding ways to impact the game in any way possible—whether that means crashing the boards, contesting shots, or motivating his teammates to give that extra effort.</p><p>“It’s a different approach,” Mitchell said. “It’s a different view on certain things, and that’s ultimately what a leader, and what a guy like myself, should do. Finding ways to impact winning. … How do I continue to help the team? Because when you help the team and we win, everything else kind of falls into place.”</p><p>Mitchell’s willingness to embrace this challenge not only shows growth but also signifies his desire to elevate Cleveland to new heights. The Cavs have seen firsthand what happens when Mitchell’s fire burns brightest—now they’re counting on it to light their path to a championship.</p><p>This version of Donovan Mitchell is different—more complete, more determined, and more focused on the ultimate goal. He’s not just trying to be a superstar anymore. He’s trying to be a champion.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell embraces new role in relentless pursuit of a championship

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/news/cavs-news-wild-undefeated-donovan-mitchell-trend-still-alive-spurs-takedown');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wild undefeated Donovan Mitchell trend still alive after Spurs takedown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wild-undefeated-Donovan-Mitchell-trend-still-alive-after-Spurs-takedown.jpg"></figure><h1>Wild undefeated Donovan Mitchell trend still alive after Spurs takedown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-27T21:33:50-07:00">March 27th, 9:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-27T21:34:47-07:00">March 27th, 9:34pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sportswriter who is comfortable covering many different sports. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs News</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>One of the reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers (59-14) have controlled the Eastern Conference all season-long is because they can rely on other players aside from Donovan Mitchell to manufacture offense. However, this squad is still at its best when Spida leaves a big mark on the action.</p><p>The Cavs survived a shorthanded yet feisty San Antonio Spurs team (31-41) on Thursday night, as Mitchell snapped out of a recent funk and posted 25 points, 14 assists, eight rebounds, one steal and one block in a 124-116 home win. <a href="https://x.com/statmuse/status/1905432266832035991" rel="noopener">Cleveland remains undefeated</a> when Mitchell records at least 25 points and 10 dimes in a game, per StatMuse.</p><h2><b>Cavs trust Donovan Mitchell to enter another gear when necessary</b></h2><p>On a team lauded for its balance and depth, No. 45 is still the engine. He had shot below 40 percent from the field in six of his last seven contests going into this meeting with the Spurs, but perhaps Mitchell is <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-reveals-2-goals-rest-season-70-win-dreams-fade" rel="noopener">flipping the switch back on</a> as the Cavs prepare to enter playoff mode.</p><p>The 2023 All-NBA Second-Team selection and franchise as a whole have the reputation of getting swallowed by the moment. This is the Cavaliers’ chance to squash that narrative by advancing to the NBA Finals and winning a title without LeBron James. A recent four-game losing streak raised some concerns because of the aforementioned track record, but one cannot just dismiss the <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-16-game-winning-streak-gets-perfect-super-bowl-mention-fan" rel="noopener">historic 16-game winning streak</a> that preceded it.</p><p>Although Cleveland still has some things to iron out, it has now won its last three matchups. The importance of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen cannot be overstated, but this team will only reach its ceiling if Donovan Mitchell performs like the star he is when it matters most. Because, as the data shows, there is no stopping the Cavs when he is impacting the game as both a scorer and playmaker.</p><p>This group has enjoyed a stellar regular season. Now, it must validate all the hard work and wins with a momentous postseason trip. Mitchell, his teammates, and the coaching staff need to use the last nine games to get in the right mindset for the most important time of the year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Wild undefeated Donovan Mitchell trend still alive after Spurs takedown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/darius-garlands-takeover-ended-donovan-mitchell-less-cavs-roadtrip-in-style');   ga('set', 'title', 'Darius Garland’s takeover ended Donovan Mitchell-less Cavs’ roadtrip in style');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cleveland-ends-road-trip-in-style-as-Darius-Garland-takes-over-against-Trail-Blazers.jpg"></figure><h1>Darius Garland’s takeover ended Donovan Mitchell-less Cavs’ roadtrip in style</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-26T12:13:15-07:00">March 26th, 12:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-26T12:13:15-07:00">March 26th, 12:13pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For Darius Garland and the Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s not how you start—it’s how you finish. The Cavs capped off their grueling five-game road trip with a statement win, taking down the Portland Trail Blazers 122-111. While it wasn’t a picture-perfect performance, it was a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-snap-losing-streak-jazz">return to form for a Cleveland squad</a> that had looked out of sorts during a <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers" rel="noopener">recent four-game losing streak</a>.</p><p>More importantly, it was a reminder of how dangerous this Cavs team can be when its stars shine—especially Darius Garland, who <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-road-trip-finale-blazers">took center stage in Cleveland superstar Donovan Mitchell’s absence</a>.</p><p>At one point during this cross-country trek, the Cavs seemed to be on the verge of unraveling. Heavy legs, poor shooting, and lackluster defense had them looking nothing like the Eastern Conference’s top team. At times, frustration was palpable, stretching from the locker room to the fans watching back in Cleveland. But head coach Kenny Atkinson never wavered, urging his team to look in the mirror, acknowledge their flaws, and get back to the fundamentals.</p><h2><b>Darius Garland helped the Cavs get down to business to defeat the Blazers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Darius-Garland-drives-Cavs-v-Trail-Blazers.jpg"><figcaption>Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>That mentality was on display Tuesday night. The Blazers, clinging to their fading postseason hopes, came out swinging. The opening quarter was a shootout, with both teams trading blows and finishing the frame knotted at 33 apiece. But when the second quarter began, Cleveland’s defense finally came alive. The Cavs turned stops into easy buckets, building an 11-point lead before heading into halftime up 60-52.</p><p>Portland wasn’t going to go away quietly. The Blazers roared back in the third quarter, dropping 34 points and repeatedly cutting Cleveland’s lead to a single possession. But every time Portland made a push, the Cavs had an answer. Ty Jerome—who turned in his best performance in a Cavs uniform—scored 13 of his 25 points in that period, keeping Cleveland in control.</p><p>The fourth quarter was where Garland took over. With Portland once again making a final push, Cleveland’s young star put his foot down and closed the door. He orchestrated the offense with precision, attacking the defense with a mix of floaters, mid-range pull-ups, and crafty finishes at the rim. The Blazers had no answer for him. The Cavs star poured in nine critical points in the final frame, including a stretch of seven straight, before sinking a dagger jumper from the corner to put the game out of reach.</p><p>Garland’s final line—27 points on 11-of-19 shooting with eight assists—only tells part of the story. This was a performance reminiscent of the All-Star-caliber guard the Cavs know he can be. It was a throwback to a time when Garland dictated the flow of games with his handle, footwork, and vision, slicing through defenses with the confidence of a veteran floor general.</p><p>This road trip hadn’t been kind to Garland. His numbers were respectable, but he hadn’t been the impact player Cleveland needed him to be. The three-point shot hadn’t been falling, and there were stretches where he didn’t look like an offensive focal point. That wasn’t the case in Portland. This was the version of Garland that makes the Cavs a true contender—a fearless, high-IQ playmaker who can take over when the moment demands it.</p><h2><b>How Cleveland supported Darius Garland to secure the win</b></h2><p>Garland wasn’t alone in carrying the load. Ty Jerome, playing just his second game after a lengthy injury absence, provided a massive spark off the bench with 25 points in 21 minutes. His timely shot-making was crucial in preventing the Blazers from stealing momentum. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley was a force on both ends, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in a dominant showing. Jarrett Allen (14 points), Sam Merrill (14), and De’Andre Hunter (11) also contributed to the balanced effort.</p><p>The win moves Cleveland to 58-14 on the season, maintaining their five-game lead over Boston for the Eastern Conference’s top seed with just 10 games remaining. More importantly, it provides the kind of confidence boost this team needed heading into the final stretch.</p><p>Last season, an injury-related absence for Donovan Mitchell might have spelled disaster. But this year’s Cavs have evolved. They don’t just rely on one superstar to carry them—they have multiple players capable of stepping up when called upon. Tuesday night was proof of that.</p><p>The flight home will feel much different than it would have just a few days ago. What once seemed like a road trip spiraling into disaster now ends with a sense of accomplishment. Cleveland fought through adversity, rediscovered its identity, and saw one of its most important players return to form.</p><p>For Garland, this wasn’t just another win—it was a statement. A reminder that when he’s at his best, the Cavs are a different beast entirely.</p><p>And as the playoffs loom, that’s a reality the rest of the NBA should be paying close attention to.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Darius Garland’s takeover ended Donovan Mitchell-less Cavs’ roadtrip in style

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/news/donovan-mitchell-assigns-blame-cavs-4-game-losing-streak');   ga('set', 'title', 'Donovan Mitchell assigns blame for Cavs’ 4-game losing streak');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CAVS-NATION-Cavs-news-Donovan-Mitchell-assigns-blame-for-Cleveland-4-game-losing-streak.jpg"></figure><h1>Donovan Mitchell assigns blame for Cavs’ 4-game losing streak</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-22T13:29:51-07:00">March 22nd, 1:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-22T13:29:51-07:00">March 22nd, 1:29pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints and Cavs Nation, as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs News</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After a historic 16-game win streak, All-Star Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavs lost their fourth consecutive game in a 123-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns. After <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-reveals-2-goals-rest-season-70-win-dreams-fade">Mitchell revealed two goals as 70-wins fades</a> for the Cavs, he took the blame for Friday’s 11-point loss to the Suns. As the self-appointed leader, Donovan believes it’s up to him to turn things around for Cleveland.</p><p>Mitchell <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/03/whats-wrong-with-the-cavs-it-starts-with-donovan-mitchell.html?outputType=amp" rel="noopener">says</a> he has to steer the Cavs in the right direction, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.</p><p>“Put this on me,” Mitchell said. “When your leader ain’t doing [expletive], this is what happens. If I’m not being who I need to be then we’re not going to get to where we want to get to. So, until that happens — and it will — yeah, if you’re looking for where to point, it’s right here.”</p><p>Despite the four-game skid, the Cavs remain atop the Eastern Conference standings. Perhaps looking at the bigger picture, Mitchell <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6214983/2025/03/19/cleveland-cavaliers-losing-streak-clippers/" rel="noopener">magnified</a> what’s most important, per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.</p><p>“You want to be healthy and playing the right way. If that comes with it then, yeah, (clinching the No. 1 overall seed matters). We’re competitors, and we want to be the best of the best. But at the end of the day, we want to be healthy, playing the right way and taking these tests, and if we don’t (finish ahead of Oklahoma City), then we don’t,” Mitchell said.</p><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder (58-12) surpassed the Cavs for the league’s best record.</p><h2><b>Kenny Atkinson sends a warning after Cavs’ loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cavs-head-coach-Kenny-Atkinson_321523.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After leading the Cavs to a historic 16-game win streak, head coach <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-sends-playoff-warning-cleveland-allowing-132-points-clippers">Kenny Atkinson sent a playoff warning to his team</a> after Tuesday’s 132-119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Atkinson revealed the Cavs put forth a poor defensive effort that would never translate into wins during the postseason.</p><p>After the loss, Atkinson <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6214983/2025/03/19/cleveland-cavaliers-losing-streak-clippers/" rel="noopener">discussed</a> his team’s performance, per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.</p><p>“They played great — elite shot-making performance by them. Poor defense by us,” Atkinson said. “Our lack of discipline fouling them, putting them on the line, and giving them second-chance points. They did have an elite shot-making game, but we weren’t disciplined and didn’t do the things on the margins.”</p><p>“That kind of performance can’t survive in a playoff atmosphere, a playoff situation.”</p><p>Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell, Atkinson, and the Cavs will look to snap their four-game losing streak and earn their 57th win of the regular season on Sunday against the Jazz on the road.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Donovan Mitchell assigns blame for Cavs’ 4-game losing streak

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-gives-sicko-reason-for-enjoying-3rd-straight-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives ‘sicko’ reason for ‘enjoying’ 3rd straight loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CAVS-NATION-Cavs-news-Donovan-Mitchell-gives-sicko-reason-for-enjoying-3rd-straight-loss.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives ‘sicko’ reason for ‘enjoying’ 3rd straight loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-20T10:18:23-07:00">March 20th, 10:18am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-20T10:18:23-07:00">March 20th, 10:18am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints and Cavs Nation in October 2023. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs News</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-reveals-2-goals-rest-season-70-win-dreams-fade" rel="noopener">Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mithcell has goals</a> for the rest of the season, the team first has to bounce back amid a three-game losing streak. It wasn’t too long ago that the <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-cleveland-16-game-winning-streak-ends-heartbreaking-fashion-magic" rel="noopener">Cavs were on a 16-game winning streak</a>, but now that they are on the skid, Mitchell sees it in a positive light.</p><p>Mitchell spoke after the Cavs’ last loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, 123-119, where the star finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists. He would express how because he’s <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/03/why-donovan-mitchell-is-enjoying-the-cavs-three-game-losing-streak.html" rel="noopener">“kind of a sicko,”</a> he enjoys this as the team is looking to overcome hurdles according to Cleveland.com.</p><p>“I’m trying to refrain from using the word happy,” Mitchell said. “I’m kind of a sicko, so I enjoy this. This is what makes the season fun — going through adversity.”</p><p>“The sky is not falling. But we have some (expletive) to figure out,” Mitchell continued. “This is part of it. We have to be better. That’s no lie. I feel like this is something that is really going to help us going forward. You don’t grow without going through things…It’s another challenge for us.”</p><h2><b>Donovan Mitchell on the lessons the Cavs are having</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Donovan-Mitchell-on-March-19-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even with the losing streak, the <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-make-history-2nd-15-game-win-streak-single-season" rel="noopener">Cavs have had a historic season</a> in their franchise history so while a loss could be seen as an opportunity to be better, Mitchell still is frustrated. However, he sees it as “lessons you want to have.”</p><p>“I’m not ever going to be happy that we are losing a game. But these are lessons you want to have — now,” Mitchell said. “When the time comes and we’re in Boston, New York, Milwaukee, Indiana, wherever we are at, and our backs are against the wall, you remember Sacramento, the Clippers or Orlando at home. You have something that is fresh on your brain.</p><p>“I think when you have had the success that we have had it’s human nature at some point to have a little slippage,” Mitchell continued. “We have had slippage throughout the season. But we have covered it up with wins. Fortunately, we have built a cushion so we’re not in certain situations as some other teams.”</p><h2><b>Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell on the skid happening at the “perfect time”</b></h2><p>With the <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-sends-playoff-warning-cleveland-allowing-132-points-clippers" rel="noopener">Cavs looking to make major noise in the playoffs</a>, they are going through the motions like any top team which Mitchell acknowledges.</p><p>“You have to go through these things to learn what you have to fix and how to fix it,” Mitchell said. “I like that it is now. This is the perfect time, right before we are about to get into it. On the road. March has been a hell of a schedule. All these obstacles. These are the tests we have talked about. How are we going to react? This is what I enjoy because it’s finding ways to get better and continuing to grow.”</p><p>“The outside world, I don’t know what’s being said, it may look crazy, but this is what you want,” Mitchell continued. “You want to bring this on now so when it becomes playoff time, we’re not running into this for the first time.”</p><p>The Cavs are still 56-13 which puts them first in the East as they next face the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives ‘sicko’ reason for ‘enjoying’ 3rd straight loss

Ja Morant

Draymond Green

Jimmy Butler

Trae Young

Donovan Mitchell

D'Angelo Russell

Jayson Tatum

Jeremy Lin

Joel Embiid

Devin Booker

1x All Star

3x All Star

2022-23 All-NBA

2017-18 All-Rookie

2x All Star

4x All Star

5x All Star

6x All Star

Utah Jazz

Cleveland Cavaliers

3 seasons

Career

5 seasons

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1651316991850868738/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1649529486923255809/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1648424796584280065/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1647307292805591041/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1643342775734157314/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1642634734424453120/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1640818024348372992/

https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1640059568054054914/

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
24.0	4.5	4.9	0.2	1.3

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
24.0	4.5	4.9	0.2	1.3

Donovan
Mitchell

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Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives ‘sicko’ reason for ‘enjoying’ 3rd straight loss

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