Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 116-109 comeback win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The victory cuts the Pistons’ lead to 2-1 in the second-round playoff series.
Mitchell took over the game in the fourth quarter, but the performance carried extra meaning. Nine years ago, on the night of the 2017 NBA Draft, he was certain the Pistons would select him with the 12th overall pick.
Then-Detroit president and coach Stan Van Gundy arranged a private workout in Auburn Hills. Mitchell recalled the film session vividly: “I did really well with Stan’s film study. I watched a lot of tape and remembered every college play perfectly. I thought I aced it. I felt like this was it—I had it locked up.” His combine measurements backed up his confidence: 6-foot-3 with a 6-10 wingspan, 5.9% body fat, a 36.5-inch standing vertical, and a 3.01-second three-quarter court sprint—one of the fastest times in combine history.
Van Gundy praised Mitchell at the time: “Great interview, great workout. Very smart, thoughtful, extremely mature for his age.” Yet the Pistons chose Duke sharpshooter Luke Kennard instead.
Nine years later, Mitchell answered the phone call that never came with a 35-point masterclass.