Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point performance Monday night wasn’t without a cost.
The Cleveland Cavaliers star was hit with a performance-enhancing drug test on Tuesday, he said on Twitter. The team confirmed the test to ESPN.
Now testing is a normal event for players in the league. You are usually hit by four random PED Tests during the season, and then two more in the off-season. However, the keyword there is random.
While there’s no real way to prove otherwise, a test that comes just hours after Mitchell’s historic performance certainly doesn’t feel random — which is probably why Mitchell found it so funny.
Mitchell led the Cavaliers back from a 21-point hole to beat the Chicago Bulls Monday night with his franchise-record 71 overtime points. That was the highest scoring in a single game in the league since Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant lost 81 points to the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Mitchell’s performance was the eighth-highest game in league history and the highest-scoring game that season.
“It’s humiliating. I’m speechless to be honest when you say that,” Mitchell said. “I think for me I not only did that, but I did it in an effort where we came back and won. And that’s how we won. That’s really what, to me it’s like a man, that’s crazy … I’m very blessed, humbled, to be in this company, in this group.”
NBA: Donovan Mitchell’s 71 points shouldn’t have happened
Though it can’t be undone, the NBA said Tuesday that Mitchell’s 71-point performance shouldn’t have happened.
Mitchell sent the game into overtime after intentionally missing a free throw Monday night and tapping it back in in the dying seconds. The sequence was incredible.
But on Wednesday, the NBA said Mitchell did in fact step down the foul lane early – which should have voided his basket and given the Bulls the win.
The story goes on
“First, it’s a clear violation,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said after the game. “Clearly he crosses the basket line before the ball ever touches the rim. That’s the first thing… And he just shot and he really hit Patrick. And I think part of the reason he beat Patrick is because he went in there too early.”
But since that wasn’t the case at the moment, there’s nothing to be done.
Mitchell then dropped 13 points in overtime to go to 71 and take the win.
Players are generally randomly hit by a PED test four times during the season. Donovan Mitchells came on immediately after losing 71 points with the Bulls. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)