Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell delivered an exceptional performance on Wednesday night, recording a season-high 46 points in only 35 minutes of play. His stellar outing, which included 15-of-21 shooting from the field, 54.5% from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, propelled Cleveland to a 132-121 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Mitchell also contributed eight assists and four rebounds, showcasing an all-around dominant effort.

During his postgame news conference, Mitchell revealed the unconventional source of his motivation: an opponent he faced earlier that day in a game of NBA2K26. "This kid pissed me off today," Mitchell told reporters, recounting how the individual called him "washed up" and claimed he hadn't seen a highlight from him in a minute. Mitchell took the digital challenge personally, telling his opponent, "Wait, just wait," and later dedicated his season-high performance to the online gamer, stating, "This game was for that kid – or grown man, whoever that was – so I appreciate you. I told him I'd give him a shoutout too."

Mitchell's remarkable night was not just a personal best but also etched his name further into Cavaliers franchise history. It marked his 20th 40-point game with the team, placing him second only to LeBron James' 51 such games. Furthermore, his 71.4% field goal percentage tied him for the highest in a 45-point Cavaliers game in franchise history, a feat previously achieved by Kyrie Irving with 46 points in March 2017 and LeBron James with 47 points in 2009. Connecting on six triples, Mitchell ensured his dedication was backed by a truly highlight-filled evening.