Donovan Mitchell ties 39-year-old NBA record as Cavs down Pistons to level series 2-2

Donovan Mitchell delivered a record-tying scoring explosion as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons 112-103 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday, leveling the series at 2-2. Playing in front of a packed Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Mitchell finished with 43 points, five rebounds, and two assists after a stunning second-half surge. The star guard erupted for 39 points after halftime, tying an NBA postseason record for most points in a single half, a mark originally set by Eric Floyd in 1987. His performance marked the third straight game in which he scored 30 or more points, helping Cleveland recover from an 0-2 series deficit.


At halftime, Mitchell admitted he apologized to his teammates for a slow start, taking full responsibility for the Cavaliers’ early struggles.


"I was trying to set the tone on offense, and I didn't do that in the first half. I came in at half-time and told my guys, 'It's on me'," Mitchell said. "I tried to make a statement in the second half."


Mitchell responded in dominant fashion, scoring 21 points in the third quarter alone. His explosive run fueled a massive 25-0 Cavaliers streak that flipped a 56-52 deficit into a commanding 75-58 lead.

The Cavaliers maintained control in the fourth quarter as Mitchell added another 18 points, while Detroit struggled to respond. Rising star Cade Cunningham was limited to just seven points in the second half, finishing with 19 overall. Caris LeVert led the Pistons with 24 points off the bench, but it was not enough to stop Cleveland’s momentum.

James Harden contributed 24 points for Cleveland, adding depth to a balanced offensive effort.

Mitchell said after the game that Cleveland and Detroit had both protected their home courts so far, and now the focus shifts to Game 5 in Detroit on Wednesday. He emphasized that the Cavaliers must bring the same intensity on the road if they want to take control of the series moving forward.