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Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell scored a career-high 71 points against the Chicago Bulls on January 2, 2023, and he credited a surprising substance for his performance in that game. During a recent appearance on the Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady podcast, Mitchell admitted that he consumed a few drinks the night before the game, and he said that the alcohol may have helped him establish a new career scoring record. “We played them on New Year’s Eve. Then we had New Year’s in Cleveland. Then we played the next day. Now I will say this. I’ve never drank before a game in my life. It was New Year’s," Mitchell said. "So I did have a drink, a few drinks the night before the game. Never done that in my career. Haven’t done it since. So I tell people like that was probably what, you know, allowed me to have the night I had.” Donovan Mitchell on the night he scored 71 on Chicago: — NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) September 2, 2026 “We played them on New Year’s Eve. Then we had New Year’s in Cleveland. Then we played the next day. Now I will say this. I’ve never drank before a game in my life. It was New Year’s. So I did have a drink, a few drinks the… https://t.co/tG0xzFv4Mx pic.twitter.com/lVGYY59Idt Mitchell claims that he has never drank the night before a game prior to that 71-point performance or since. But, if booze is truly responsible for his epic performance, perhaps he should consider imbibing more often. More NBA news: - Kawhi Leonard releases statement following conclusion of NBA's investigation into Clippers - Steph Curry sends clear message regarding future with Golden State Warriors - V.J. Edgecombe gets brutally honest about expectations for Philadelphia 76ers - Jaylen Brown breaks silence on playing with LeBron James on Philadelphia 76ers - Chet Holmgren gets brutally honest about Thunder's offseason departures