Donovan Mitchell credits NBA 2K trash talker for season-high performance - ESPN

Sometimes, all it takes is a little motivation to bring out the best.

That was the case Wednesday night for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell posted a season-high 46 points on 15-of-21 shooting, with eight assists and four rebounds, in only 35 minutes of play in Cleveland's 132-121 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

He also shot an efficient 54.5% from beyond the arc and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.

During his postgame news conference, Mitchell attested to what caused him to unleash his wrath on the offensive end of the floor.

«This kid pissed me off today,» Mitchell told reporters. «I was playing 2K[26].… I told him too, I was like 'Wait, just wait.' And he just called me washed up; he called me a bunch of things, but I love it. He said he ain't seen a highlight from me in a minute, and I just told him, 'All right, we'll see.'»

«He called me washed up… he said he ain't seen a highlight from me in a minute.»<a href=«https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell?ref_src=» https:>@spidadmitchell

dedicates his 46-point night to an <a href=«https://twitter.com/NBA2K?ref_src=» https:>@NBA2K opponent from earlier in the day