Donovan Mitchell keeping it going for Cavs

CLEVELAND — For much of the season, Donovan Mitchell has been carrying the Cavaliers on his back. The team's braintrust realizes it's not a recipe for success over the long haul. If it continues, Mitchell will be worn out by the start of the playoffs. "It's not sustainable long term," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. "We need more balance. Right now, it's on him." Mitchell, 29, is averaging career highs almost across the board in the 20 games in which he's played. He was averaging a career-high 30.6 points heading into the Portland game Wednesday, along with 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is shooting a career-high .508 from the field, a career-high .391 from the 3-point line and .829 from the foul line. Atkinson said he believes things will even out once Darius Garland finds his groove and Jarrett Allen returns to the lineup.Mitchell, a first-team All-NBA player last season, tweaked his offseason workout regime. He lived in the weight room and is built like a strong safety. "The elite players do little things on the margins," Atkinson said. The shooting guard's mindset has changed, the coach said. He's in the right frame of mind to dominate like he did Monday in Indiana with a game-high 43 points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists. Mitchell converted 16 of 27 from the field. It was his third 40-point game this season and 22nd since joining the Cavs in 2022. He needed one 3-pointer to reach 1,700 for his career. The former Louisville standout's 22 40-point games are ranked fourth in the NBA since he was traded to Cleveland. Luca Doncic leads the way with 36 40-point games during that span, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied for second with 27. Mitchell leads the NBA in total 3-pointers made with 81. He's also fifth in the league in scoring. Mitchell is just the second Cavs player in team history to average 30 or more points in the first 20 games of the season. The other was LeBron James' 30.7 in 2005-06. He is also the second player in NBA history to register 30 or more points, shoot .500 or better and have 80 or more 3-pointers in the first 20 games of a season (Golden State's Stephen Curry is the other). Mitchell is on pace to be the seventh player in NBA history to average 30 or more points, have 5.0 or more assists, 5.0 or more rebounds and shoot .500 or better during a season. He is 68 points shy of recording his 14,000th point in his NBA career. Atkinson said his star guard is "doing it on both ends," and playing strong defense. "If I text him that we need 10 rebounds, he gets 10 rebounds," the coach said. "He's in a great place." Contact Bob Finnan at (440) 329-7135 or rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.