What Donovan Mitchell said after leading the Cavs to their Game 7 comeback win: Transcript

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavs are heading to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2018 — in large part because of Donovan Mitchell’s heroic efforts — after defeating the Orlando Magic♚ 106-94 in Game 7 on Sunday.

Here is what🌞 the All-Star guard said following the largest comeback in NBA history since the league began tracking play-by-play, where he had 39 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block:

Is there kind of a sense of relief that you got the job done at home?

Yes, but I feel like, I mean, this was great because we were able to learn a lot of things about ourselves. I’m never going to shy away from that, but we can be better. And I hate to be that guy, but this was great, this was phenomenal as a great win, great series, great test for us mentally, physically, but we can and we will have to be better to beat Boston. No disrespect to Orlando because they’re a phenomenal team. They got a lot of great guys, but I feel like this was just big for uꩲs as a group, but we don’t really have time to celebrate, to be honest with you. So yes, to answer your question, yes.

You had a moment In the third quarter where you pulled Darius, put your arm around him on the bench. You gave him kind of a pep talk. First of all, can you share all what you said to him, and then are you glad to see that he responded the way that he did?

Yeah, I told him, I don’t give a damn what happened the past quarter and a half, the missed layup, whatever, I don’t care. You know what I mean? You trust your work, you know what I mean? Trust what you’ve done, trust who you are. And the biggest thing for him is in a Game 7, I experienced this when we played Denver, it becomes a lot — I’m not saying that was the case for him, I’m not going to speak for him, but I understand what he was feeling. You know what I mean? It’s like, damn, I can’t get anything, right? So for me it’s just like, man, trust it. We trust you believe in yourself. And there’s been moments where he’s done the same to me, we have that relationship. So to see him respond like that, when he hit that 3, I knew he’s back. You know what I mean? Sometimes you just need that. The second opportunity, shout out to Ice, for getting the rebound. But that’s huge. That’s who he needs to be. And I always tell him, he was in foul trouble and things like that. But keep shooting the ball, keep 🎃being aggressive. I don’t care if you turn the ball over, I don’t care if the crowd boos, I don’t care. We don’t care. Just continue to be you. And I’m glad he was able to do that tonight.

You gave him a bear hug after he hit a 3-pointer, was that what that was for?

That’s exactly what it was.

After Game 6, you took a lot of onus on yourself despite scoring 50 points, saying you should have scored 60 or whatever it was, and then you go out here tonight, 89 points over the last two games, what has your mentality been and thought process been over the last two games, and especially tonight?

Well, first of all, I’m tired of losing in the first🌸 round. That’s first and foremost. And that’s just — you work too hard. We work too hard as a group. So that was kind of my mindset and understanding that they were going to go on a run. And I’m glad it was the first half that kind of gave us something to respond to. You know what I mean? But for me, just being attack minded, I mean going out obviously battling through what I’m battling through, but I could battle through it and figure it out or I could rehab it for the next three or four months. That’s kind of where I’m at mentally. So I’m good and I’m glad we got the dub.

Can you take us inside the locker room at halftime, after you guys came back a bit, still weren’t in the lead, but the momentum was coming your way, what were the conversations like?

Yeah, it was just staying even keel throughout. You know what I mean? That was the biggest thing. And I didn’t feel our confidence waive✅r much. Even when we had, what was it? Like 20 points in the first quarter, 18 points, something crazy like that? 18 points. I didn’t feel the confidence waiver. It can be a lot. They came out and credit to them, they came out and jumped on us. But for us to respond the way we did, just keep plugging, keep chipping away. And then for me coming out, just trying to set the tone and transition, get downhill. When you have the home crowd, those moments, they change everything. You know what I mean? So I got to give a huge credit to Isaac Okoro, Caris and Sam Merrill. We don’t win that game without them playing the way they played and their contributions. That’s what we needed from them and they were huge for us. So that was the biggest 10.

This franchise hadn’t won a first-round playoff series without LeBron James in more than 30 years until today. What does it mean to you to be the one to lead this franchise out of the first round?

It’s an honor, obviously to be in part of history in that regard. But the biggest thing is, and I told everybody in the locker room, I don’t mean this disrespectful, but it doesn’t really mean much. You know what I mean? We didn’t make the group we made just to come in and win the first round. You know what I mean? And obviously we have a tall task in Boston, but like I said, after Gam🅷e 5, one of you asked, what does this win mean? It doesn’t mean anythi🌟ng. We accomplished one goal, now we have to do it again. That’s the mindset. Like I said, we could celebrate this for a few hours, but we ain’t got really time to do all that. You know what? So that’s my mindset. When they traded for me, it wasn’t just to win a first round series, it was to continue to push and move forward. And I think that’s where all of our heads are at.

When did you feel the game starting to flip? When did you start to believe that you guys could do it?

I mean I always believed, but when I felt the game flip, I felt like after I hit that 3 in the second quarter, that for me was like, all right, we’re going to at least keep it here. You know what I mean? I didn’t know how, I didn’t know what was going to [happen], but for me it was like, all right, just continue to be your pace. When we hit the 3 and then♎ cut it to five or whatever it was, that was when it was like, all right, it’s a momentum shift. You fe🤡el it. You know what I mean? And I felt it. So that was probably the biggest thing. And understanding throughout, there’s going to be runs. We’re going to play a team that scores a bunch, you know what I mean? There’s gonna be runs, but once we cut it to five or whatever it was, I think it was five. After I hit that 3, I was like, all right, we good.

You mentioned the bigger picture a couple times, what should we make you of guys going into the Boston series? What should we expect from the Cavs?

I mean, whatever y’all want, to be honest, I feel like there’s a rep about us or whatever, that we’re inconsistent, whatever. At the end of the day, we’re going to be solid, we’re going t꧃o do our job. And obviously it’s not going to be pretty, I’ve said this all year, it’s not going to be things where — but this is part of a growth process. And to see us grow up in a series, and not to speak about myself, but I speak about everybody down the line for us. We are a team that can hang and play with the best and be one of the best. And I firmly believe that. So I mean, Joe, all of y’all can make the takes y’all want to make about who we are, but we know who we are, a team that is a contender and we have to go out there and like I said, this playoff series is great, but we did what we’re supposed to do. I mean, at the end, in the grand scheme of it all, we just took 7 games, you know what I mean? So for us coming into Boston, I’m pretty sure everybody thinks they’re going to come in and kick our ass. So for us to continue to stay levelheaded throughout, not listen to well, all ya’ll, and just be who we are, that’s the biggest thing.

The pressure kind of was building obviously through the seven-game series. And then you guys for winning a first round series, is there a little bit of an exhale moment, especially knowing that you’re going to get Jarrett back?

There’s aꦜn exhale because Jarrett’s coming back. I will say that, but like I said, we won one series. I don’t dunno how else to say it. This is great and I’m happy that we did it, but we haven’t accomplished anything yet. You know what I mean? We took care of business. Now we got to go get a road win. We [haven’t] won a road road playoff games since I’ve been here. You kno♈w what I mean? So we got to take care of business. That’s it.

How important was Caris LeVert being the secondary guy for you tonight?

Big time for him to continue to get in there, had five rebounds, four assists, obviously the 15 points, just being aggressive, being himself. He was the first one here today, and I kind of felt like he was going to give us what he typically does. I didn’t know in what way, shape, or form, but I knew he was going to be there. And it’s just great to see that, especially coming up for this series. We’re going to need him.🍎 But it’s great that we all did it together as a group.

You and Jayson Tatum have a great relationship. How do you look forward to competing against him? And how will that relationship perhaps be on pause during the series?

Him and Jaylen Brown. Two of my friends. I mean, to be honest, but I mean I stopped talking to them when there was a possibility that we were going to play them. I mean, once we saw how things were going to play out. But it’s all competition and I expect nothing but the best from them and vice versa. And we got to go out there ꦺand take care of business in a hostile environment. But it’s always great t𝄹o play against friends, compete against friends, and I know it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be fun. And I’m excited.

What was the key to the way you guys defended in the third quarter? They were four of 24 from the field.

We stayed solid. I feel like we put, Paolo had 18 free throws, but Franz Wagner got to the free throw line a lot. This series, whether it was swipe-downs ꦿand I’m a culprit of it as well, just staying solid. I mean throughout making them try to finish over us, contesting shotꦚs, running out, you know what I mean? And then getting rebounds. I mean ... just continuing to fight and claw. That’s what it’s going to take in a Game 7. It’s not really anything you haven’t seen. It’s just how bad do you want it? I felt like especially Isaac, he set that tone, you know what I mean? And he was the guy that really, whether it’s taking the charges, put his body on the line, getting the jump ball, getting the rebounds, whatever it may be, but making it tough for them in that regard. That was the biggest thing.

89 points, and you’re off to the semifinals in the Eastern Conference for you, over the last two games is playoff Spider a thing?

I told you at the beginning of the 🧸series, this is why I’m here. It’s my job. It’s why there’s an expectation on myself. I deserve the criticism as much as the, what do you call it, the success, the praise. You know what I mean? So for me, it’s just continued to be level-headed. I did my job, that’s it. I just did my job and I g🃏ot to continue to do my job for us to continue to advance.

You’re going to have to win on the road because [the Celtics] have the home court advantage. What’s it going to take?

It’s going to be fun. I’m excited. I feel like this was a great test for us mentally, physically. First of all, I got to give a shout to the Cleveland fans. Man, that shit was crazy, man. It is just a lot of fun playing playoff basketball. I have no doubt Boston ✃will be just as loud. And then when we c𒁃ome back here, it’ll be the same thing, man. But big shout out to the fans, man. They’re electric, they’re loud. I was a little upset they chanted We want Boston and then DG misses the free throw, but it is what it is. But man, it is a lot of fun. And going to a hostile environment, we are going to need to pull together, stick together. We have been. And go get one — or two, excuse me.

You mentioned after Game 6 that you were excited to see Cleveland in Game 7. Did it live up to your expectations?

Yes, it did. Yes, it did. I mean, if I find myself just standing in tꦐhe middle of the arena, kind of enjoying the moment, because at the end of the day there’s pressure, there’s all that, but it’s basketball and I’m playing in front of some of the best fans in the world to see the towels, to see Ahmad, hear Ahmad yelling. I don’t know what the hell he’d be yelling, but I just hear him screaming. That’s a lot of fun. You know what I mean? At the end of the day, and I always tell y’all, I’m never going to lose the kid in me, regardless of what happening. ♍We could have been down 3-0 and I’m never going to lose that because at the end of the day, this is why I work so hard. I enjoy what I do. But as fans, man, incredible.

Is there any sense of retribution for you personally, given the way the last two playoff series have gone?

I feel like for me it’s more so just trusting the work. The last two playoffs series have been what they’ve been. You know what I mean? And I told you at the beginning of the year, the past is the past. I can’t control that. I can’t dwell on it. I can’t allow it to affect me coming into this series because that brings unnecessary pressure. You know what I’m saying? So for me, there’s always going to be the noises, always going to be the talk, but for me, it’s just staying even keeled throughout. You know what I mean? And at the end of the day, man, we did our job. … But that’s my thing. You’re not getting too concerned and too worried about it. Yeah, in the moment when we lost to Dallas, we lost to New York, I go home and I sit in my house and don’t leave. But outside of that, it continues to motivate you throughout the summer, but once the season starts, you can’t hold onto it, then it just prohibits you from movin💜g forward. You know what I’m saying? So that’s my biggest thing. Continue to stay even keel throughout and hard work pays off and we got to continue to go.

What does it mean to you to get your teammates to follow your lead in the second half? You came out with those 17 points in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter you did get help around you.

I had no doubt. You know what I mean? I had no doubt. I have all the utmost faith in my teammates. And at the end of the day, I can look at myself and be like, all right, how can I make others around me, how can I allow them to continue to build? And yeah, we missed shots in a hostile en🌟vironment on the road, but it is what it is. All we did was lose, and they took care of business. So for me, understanding, I knew my teammates were going to be there for me. They always are. So for me, continue to believe. Guys, go 0-for-10, 0-for-12, whatever it is, let’s continue to have that trust and have that faith. And tonight it worked and it’s going to continue to work because that’s the group we have.

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