Donovan Mitchell Says New Year’s Drinks Helped Fuel 71-Point Game

Q: How did Donovan Mitchell overcome a quiet first half to drop 71 points after an unorthodox New Year's Eve?

Mitchell overcame the slow start by changing his mindset at halftime and becoming far more aggressive, not by chasing a record but by trying to erase Cleveland’s 20-point deficit. He said he had only 16 points at the break and told himself he needed to “assert” himself in the second half. Once his first few shots fell, his game opened up: he got to the rim, drew fouls and found his three-point touch. That shift turned a quiet night into a historic one. The numbers show how dramatically he took over. Mitchell scored 24 points in the third quarter, 18 in the fourth and 13 in overtime, finishing with 71 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists in Cleveland’s 145-134 win over Chicago. He shot 22-of-34 from the field, 7-of-15 from three and 20-of-25 from the foul line, becoming the first player in NBA history with at least 70 points and 10 assists in a game. The New Year’s Eve detail came later, when Mitchell said on the “Cousins” podcast that he had “a few drinks” the night before — something he said he had never done before a game and has not done since. He joked that the unusual routine may have helped, but his own account of the game makes clear the decisive factor was his second-half surge: he locked in, attacked more forcefully and carried the Cavaliers all the way through overtime.

Q: Could breaking a strict pregame routine be the secret catalyst behind the NBA's first-ever 70-point, 10-assist game?

Probably not. Mitchell himself framed the drinks as a joking, one-off explanation, not a proven cause of his historic night. The facts are clear: on Jan. 2, 2023, Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points with 11 assists in Cleveland’s 145-134 overtime win over Chicago, becoming the first NBA player to post a 70-point, 10-assist game. He said on the “Cousins” podcast that he had “a few drinks” on New Year’s Eve, something he had never done before a game and has not done since, and suggested it “probably” helped. But there is no evidence that breaking his routine—or alcohol specifically—was the catalyst. Athletes often rely on routine for comfort and consistency, yet standout performances usually come from a mix of skill, game context, opportunity and rhythm. In Mitchell’s case, the numbers point more to in-game factors: Cleveland was down 20, he had only 16 points at halftime, then erupted with 24 in the third quarter, 18 in the fourth and 13 in overtime. He also shot efficiently, got to the line 25 times and played in an overtime game that gave him extra minutes. A more grounded reading is that the unusual holiday schedule may have loosened the normal pattern mentally, while the comeback situation forced Mitchell into peak aggression. That can matter. But the stronger explanation is his talent, volume, efficiency and circumstances during the game—not a replicable secret in abandoning a strict pregame routine.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 3

Mitchell said a few drinks on New Year’s Eve may have helped spark the 71-point career high he posted for Cleveland against Chicago on Jan. 2, 2023.
On Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady’s “Cousins” podcast, he said it was the only time he had ever drunk the night before a game and that he has not done it since.
The outburst came in a 145-134 Cavaliers overtime win over the Bulls, one of the biggest scoring nights of Mitchell’s career.
Mitchell framed the admission jokingly, saying people ask about the performance and that the unusual pregame routine was probably what allowed him to have that night.