Donovan Mitchell tied a 39-year-old NBA playoff record with 39 second-half points as the Cleveland Cavaliers stormed back to beat the Detroit Pistons 112-103 in Game 4, leveling the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2.

After scoring just four points in the first half and missing his first six shots, Mitchell erupted after the break, fueling a devastating 24-0 Cavaliers run, the longest in an NBA playoff game since play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98. He finished with 43 points, including 21 in the third quarter alone, matching Detroit’s entire team output in the period.

Mitchell’s 39-point half equaled the playoff mark set by Eric “Sleepy” Floyd in 1987 for the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers. He had a chance to break the record with 27 seconds remaining but missed the second free throw after tying it.

The Pistons’ physical, switching defense and emphasis on contesting his pull-up threes and mid-range shots forced him into early inefficiency; he missed his first six shots from the field and didn’t score until a free throw with 4:19 left in the second quarter.

At halftime, with the Cavs trailing just 56-52, Coach Kenny Atkinson’s group shifted to greater downhill aggression, quicker ball movement to exploit closeouts, and increased interior pressure. This strategic adjustment, combined with Mitchell’s personal resolve to attack the rim more relentlessly, sparked the momentum swing.

On 39 points, he equaled Eric “Sleepy” Floyd’s record set in 1987 when Floyd’s Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. Donovan Mitchell scored from the first free throw to tie the record, but missed the second to break the record with 27 seconds remaining.

Mitchell’s outburst also added to his growing playoff resume. It was his eighth career 40-point postseason game, tying him with Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Devin Booker among active players. Only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Jalen Brunson have more.

The Pistons’ defensive adjustments that had contained Mitchell early- extra attention and physicality- ultimately broke down against Cleveland’s adjusted pace and execution in the second half.

It was his 8th career playoff game with 40+ points and fourth with the Cavs. This was Mitchell’s 5th time scoring 20+ points in a single playoff frame; it was the first time he did so with the Cavaliers. His 21-point third quarter matched the Pistons’ entire total. Despite Mitchell’s early struggles, the Cavaliers only trailed 56-52 at halftime.

James Harden and Evan Mobley both kept Cleveland in the game in the first half, combining for 26 points. Spida was 12 of 18 from the field in the second half, including three 3-pointers, and was 12 of 13 at the line.

Head coach praises Donovan Mitchell

“It’s pretty impressive. I’m not sure I’ve seen in the playoffs a turnaround like that where a guy is struggling and just absolutely turns the switch and complete opposite of the first half,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

What was impressive was the Cavs’ 24-0 run that spanned the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter. In that period, Donovan Mitchell dropped 15 points. Speaking about his first-half drought, Spida was vocal about his shots not going in, but he always had confidence that it would turn around.

“I always tell y’all it’s not just about the scoring, it’s about your overall impact on the game. And for me, it was just like, ‘OK, now I have an opportunity to try to get downhill’ and then started going in.” His teammates even reminded him that he missed the record with his second free-throw attempt, but that record is not what matters during the playoffs.

“Everybody let me know that I missed a free throw to break the record, though,” Mitchell said. “I will say that, but we’re two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do, and that’s all that matters.”