NBA roundup: Mitchell shines as Cavs reach 60 wins for third time in franchise history

Donovan Mitchell spearheaded the effort as the Cleveland Cavaliers secured their 60th victory of the NBA season, triumphing over the high-performing Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 127-122 on Sunday.

Mitchell, a key player for Cleveland, recorded 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, which Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson hailed as his finest performance of the season.

This win marks the first time Cleveland has achieved 60 victories in a season since the 2009-2010 season and only the third occurrence in the franchise's history.

More importantly, this victory positions Cleveland 4.5 games ahead of the reigning NBA champions, Boston, in the competition for the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, with only seven regular-season games left to play.

Atkinson remarked that reaching 60 wins exceeded his expectations at the beginning of the season, especially following a 48-win campaign in 2023-2024.

"I didn't expect 60 wins," Atkinson said. "My internal goal was 'Can we improve from last year?' That was kind of where my mind was."

"But for this team to take it to another level and kind of shatter that, says a lot. And we're not done - we can still add to that."

"But we've got to celebrate this. It's not the end goal, but we should take a deep breath and celebrate 60 wins."

"It's so hard to do in this league. I'm really happy for the guys today."

Mitchell benefited from strong offensive contributions from Jarrett Allen, who scored 25 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 22 points and Darius Garland added 19 points.

However, Atkinson specifically commended Mitchell for his outstanding performance on both sides of the court, highlighting his four steals alongside his scoring efforts.

"He's at that kind of maturity and mental level where he can manipulate the game how he wants it," Atkinson said of the 28-year-old six-time NBA All-Star. "I would argue that this was probably his best all-around game all year."

The loss positioned the Clippers in eighth place in the Western Conference, where they are engaged in a fierce competition with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves for an automatic playoff berth.

Currently, the Clippers hold a record of 42-32, trailing behind both Golden State and Minnesota, who secured victories on Sunday.

The top six teams in the Western Conference qualify for the playoffs, while those ranked seventh to tenth participate in a mini-tournament to compete for the last two playoff spots.

The Warriors enhanced their prospects of securing an automatic playoff spot by decisively defeating the San Antonio Spurs 148-106 in Texas, maintaining their position in sixth place.

The Timberwolves currently sit in seventh place following a tumultuous 123-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons. This match was marked by a brawl in the second quarter, resulting in the ejection of seven players and two coaches, including Detroit's head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

The Phoenix Suns' aspirations for a spot in the Western Conference play-in were hindered by a 148-109 defeat to the Houston Rockets, compounded by the loss of star player Kevin Durant due to an ankle injury sustained in the third quarter.

Durant injured his left ankle after stepping on the foot of Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. while driving to the basket, causing him to collapse in pain. He was assisted off the court and did not return to the game.

The Rockets, who are second in the Western Conference, were already leading 92-57 when Dillon Brooks was ejected in the second quarter for a foul on Durant, which he continued to dispute with the officials following the altercation.

Jalen Green led the Rockets with 33 points, contributing to a total of eight Houston players scoring in double figures, while Devin Booker topped the Suns with 28 points.

In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks triumphed over the Milwaukee Bucks 145-124, improving their record to 36-38, with Zaccharie Risacher achieving a game-high 36 points.

At Madison Square Garden, the third-placed New York Knicks secured a 110-93 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.

SportsLigue