Surging Six: These Cavs are playing great heading into All-Star break

Cavs recent standout No. 4: Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell went through a rough patch of games in January, partly with his shot being off at the time and partly because of a groin injury that seemed to be affecting him somewhat. He dealt with sickness last month as well.

Since, though, he’s often been back to playing at a high level, and in the past two weeks or so, his three-level scoring, driving and playmaking abilities have all been huge for the surging Cavaliers. In his seven appearances in February, Mitchell has had 25.6 points per contest, to go with 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

His past two games have been All-Star worthy as well, with 41 points and a six-triple effort in Monday night’s win over the San Antonio Spurs, and Mitchell had 33 points thanks to some dazzling shot-making and ball handling in Cleveland’s near-comeback at the Sixers on Wednesday night. He tacked on five assists apiece in both of those contests, and his vision and ever-improving chemistry offensively with Mobley and Allen has been encouraging to see in recent weeks, too, for what it’s worth.

Mitchell is rightfully an All-Star starter for the first in his career in his former home building in Vivint Arena in Utah, and despite some rough outings here and there dating back to last month, he’s finding his All-Star form once again.

The trade has and will benefit both sides long term, but from a Cavs’ standpoint in this sense, nobody can realistically fault Cleveland for acquiring a superstar in Mitchell in that offseason deal.