The impossible exists only to make it possible, or at least that’s what was proven in Boston on Friday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers stunned the Boston Celtics.
At the TD Garden in Boston, a ‘mecca’ in the sport of basketball, Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert each scored more than 40 points (41, to be exact) and made a night for the history of the best basketball league in the world.
Rare achievement
There are only thirteen pairings to reach that many points in 76 years of the NBA.
With a quick count you come to the conclusion of the complexity of scoring 40 or more points two teammates.
It is logical, because to do so you have to take on a lot of balls, a lot of minutes, and in the case of the Cavs‘ backcourt, they helped themselves with an overtime, in which their team continued to fulfill the role of ‘new giant’ of the East by knocking out the Celtics (132-123).
Which other duos have scored more than 40 points?
Throughout history, as collected by ‘AllAboutBasketball’, only the following duos have reached that number in the regular season: Gus Johnson and Walt Bellamy (41 and 40, in 1964 with the Bullets), Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (43 each, in 1970 with the Lakers), Pete Maravich and Nate Williams (45 and 41, with the Jazz in 1977), Paul Westphal and Walter Davis (43 and 40, with the Suns in 1978), George Gervin and Mike Mitchell (50 and 45, in 1982 with the Spurs), Isiah Thomas and John Long (47 and 41, in 1983 with the Pistons), Kiki Vandeweghe and Alex English (51 and 47, in 1983 with the Nuggets), Adrian Dantley and John Drew (43 and 42, with the Jazz in 1984), Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (44 and 40, in 1996 with the Bulls), Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (51 and 40, in 2012 with the Thunder), Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant (45 and 40, in 2012 with the Thunder), and Russell Westbrook and Paul George (43 and 45, in 2019 with the Thunder).
In the Playoffs there are also equally historic performances.
The last one, with another Cavs prayer LeBron James and Kyrie Irvingwith 41 each in ‘Game 5’ of the 2016 Finals.
Also joining the list are Baylor and West (45 and 41, in 1962 with the Lakers), Steve Floyd and Hakeem Olajuwon (42 and 41, with the Rockets in 1988), and Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose (40 each, on the 2000 Pacers).
Statement of intent
The game also served to show that the Cavs are dead serious about their chances of success this year.
Without Darius Garland, Mitchell played ‘1’ and LeVert upped his scoring.
Overtime gave them success against Tatum and Brownwho also responded with 32 apiece.
“This is what we’re capable of doing. We don’t give up. We always fight, and we have a chance to win every night,” coach JB Bickerstaff said.
“That’s the standard for the Cavaliers and that’s how we judge ourselves.”
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