Donovan Mitchell ties NBA playoff scoring record as Cavaliers even series
Donovan Mitchell completely took over in the second half of Game 4, scoring at will to lead the Cavaliers to a 112-103 win over the Pistons.
Donovan Mitchell seemed to disappear in the first half Monday, May 11 as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the conference semifinals. Then the seven-time All-Star completely took over in the second half with an explosive scoring display to propel the Cavaliers to a 112-103 victory, tying the series 2-2. Mitchel scored 39 points in the second half to tie the all-time NBA playoff record for most points in a half.
The Golden State Warriors’ Eric "Sleepy" Floyd set the record on May 10, 1987 , against the Los Angeles Lakers . Mitchell could not find the basket in the first half, shooting just 1-for-8 and tallying just four points as the Pistons took a 56-52 lead into the locker room. But the guard nicknamed “Spida” emerged as an entirely different player after the break.
SPIDA SCORED 39 OF HIS 43 POINTS IN THE 2ND HALF 🤯 IT'S THE MOST POINTS IN ANY HALF IN A POSTSEASON GAME IN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA! CAVS WIN GAME 4 TO EVEN THE SERIES AT 2-2 IN THE EAST SEMIS 🍿 pic. twitter.
com/0ZUmxWGRQu — NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026 Mitchell went from couldn’t make to couldn’t miss in the third quarter. He scored 21 points in the period, making 8-of-9 field goals, draining two of three 3-pointers and knocking down all three of his free throw attempts. His scoring tear continued in the fourth with 18 points, shooting 4-of-9 from the field (1-for-4 on 3-pointers) and hitting 9 of 10 free throws.