Donovan Mitchell, the six-time NBA All-star did not deflect blame after Cleveland Cavaliers’ latest loss on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Following the Cavaliers’ overtime defeat to the Charlotte Hornets, Mitchell delivered a blunt and honest self assessment, putting the loss squarely on his own shoulders.
Donovan Mitchell Owns Up After Tough Shooting Night vs. Hornets
After the game, Mitchell spoke candidly about his performance and why he felt the Cavaliers came up short.
“I had one of the nights, on a night, when in a situation I’m not allowed to have one of those nights,” Mitchell said. “If I played better, we win that game. Put this one on me. We competed, we fought, but I played poorly on both ends of the floor.”
Mitchell added that even a slightly better version of himself could have changed the outcome.
“If I was just half of myself tonight, we win, so that’s on me. I know my teammates won’t say that, but I will.”
The Cavaliers hosted the Hornets on December 14 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, looking to bounce back amid a recent uneven stretch. The Hornets, however, had other plans.
Hornets Take Control in Overtime vs. Cavaliers
The Hornets built a strong cushion early, taking a 15 point lead in the first half. Cleveland responded after halftime, tightening up defensively and clawing back into the game. The Cavaliers managed to force overtime by evening the score at the buzzer.
Once the extra period began, momentum shifted completely. The Hornets locked in defensively and held the Cavaliers scoreless in overtime while adding eight points of their own to secure a 119-111 win.
Mitchell finished the night with 17 points on 6-of-24 shooting from the field and 1-of-11 from three point range. He also added two rebounds and seven assists, but the inefficient shooting proved costly.
The loss marked the Cavaliers’ third defeat in their last five games. They now sit at 15-12, eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
For the Hornets, the win snapped a two game losing streak and highlighted the continued emergence of rookie Kon Knuepple. The former Duke star poured in 29 points against the Cavaliers and has led the Hornets in scoring in three of their last five games.
His recent stretch has quickly made him one of the team’s brightest spots and an early name to watch in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
As for Mitchell, there was no finger pointing, only accountability. On a night when Cleveland needed its star most, he acknowledged he fell short and made sure everyone knew it.