Donovan Mitchell Makes NBA Playoff History in Game 4 Win

The Cleveland Cavaliers tied their second-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, notching a 112-103 final score over the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.

The Pistons took a four-point lead into the halftime break at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena, and Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell had a rough showing through the first two quarters.

Mitchell had just four points in the first half. But by the time the final whistle sounded, he led all scorers with 43.

Mitchell unleashed a scoring avalanche in the second half, scoring 39 points and tying the NBA‘s all-time, single-half playoff record previously set by Golden State Warriors guard Sleepy Floyd in 1987. All-time great players Kevin Durant and Charles Barkley are next on the all-time list with 38 in a single playoff half.

Mitchell’s 39 marks the most by any player in the play-by-play era.

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The Cavaliers lost both of their opening two games on the road against the No. 1 seed Pistons. But, led by some stellar play from Mitchell, they bounced back with back-to-back wins at home to tie the series 2-2 heading into Game 5. In Game 3, Mitchell recorded a 35-point, 10-rebound double-double.

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Through the first four games of the Cavaliers’ second-round playoff series, Mitchell is averaging 33 points per game - shooting 49.5% from the field and 30.8% from behind the 3-point arc. He recorded his big scoring night in Game 4 despite shooting just 4/12 from 3-point range.

Game 5 will tipoff from Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday.

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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 11:19 PM.