Mitchell scores 39 in 2nd half as Cavs tie series vs. Pistons - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell recorded one of the best scoring halves in NBA playoff history, matching a league record with 39 points in the second half of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 112-103 victory in Game 4 on Monday night that evened their second-round series with the Detroit Pistons at 2-2.

Mitchell finished the game with 43 points, and his second-half outburst tied a record set by former Golden State Warriors guard Eric «Sleepy» Floyd in 1987 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mitchell had an opportunity to break the record, but he missed a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining.

«Everybody let me know that I missed the free throw to break the record, though,» Mitchell said with a laugh after the game. «I will say that. We're 2-2 headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do, and that's all that matters.»

The Cavs won back-to-back home games to send the Eastern Conference semifinals back to Detroit. Game 5 is Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Mitchell got off to a slow start before his second-half surge. He missed his first six shots Monday night and did not make his first field goal until 2:48 left in the second quarter. He finished with just four points in the first half, which Mitchell said after the game was a result of him not attacking the paint aggressively enough.

«Not really trying to force it,» Mitchell said. «I understand that I'm going to get looks, and it's going to fall at some point. Even if they didn't, just being aggressive, more aggressive. But I'm not tripping. We were down four at half.

»For me, it was just like, OK, now I have an opportunity to try to get downhill and then start going in."

Mitchell and the Cavs took over the game from the end of the second quarter to the first six minutes