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Cavs' Mitchell on not getting to line: 'I don't fl...

ESPN · May 6, 2026, 7:44 AM

Key takeaways

  • Asked to pinpoint Tuesday night why he wasn't getting to the free throw line during the playoffs as much as he was during the regular season, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell offered up, "I don't flop, maybe that's why."
  • Mitchell scored 23 points in Cleveland's 111-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their second-round series, ending his NBA-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in nine straight series openers.
  • During the regular season, Mitchell averaged 6.1 free throw attempts per game.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Asked to pinpoint Tuesday night why he wasn't getting to the free throw line during the playoffs as much as he was during the regular season, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell offered up, "I don't flop, maybe that's why."

Mitchell scored 23 points in Cleveland's 111-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their second-round series, ending his NBA-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in nine straight series openers. He went to the free throw line twice against the Pistons, after making 16 trips total during Cleveland's seven-game series against Toronto in the first round.

During the regular season, Mitchell averaged 6.1 free throw attempts per game.

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