Cavs’ Mitchell on lack of foul calls: ‘I don’t flop, maybe that’s why’

Asked Tuesday night to identify why he wasn’t at the free throw line during the playoffs like he was during the regular season, Cavalry the star Donovan Mitchell “I don’t flop, maybe that’s why,” offered.

Mitchell scored 23 points in Cleveland 111-101 loss from Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their second-round series, ending an NBA-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in nine consecutive series openers. He went to the free throw line twice against the Pistons after totaling 16 trips in the seven-game series against Cleveland. Toronto In the first round

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

“I just don’t get calls. I don’t know why. I don’t flop, maybe that’s why,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “And it’s not just tonight. It’s been the whole series, and it’s a little bit frustrating, but because I’m a dynamic driver, right? But I can’t control it. So if they don’t call it for me, I’ve got to find a way to finish and do it.”

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was asked the same question about Mitchell not getting foul calls at his usual rate, replying, “I just keep asking him to get to the paint, get to the rim. That’s all you can do. That’s your control. You know, we’ve just got to keep moving the ball. You can match up aggressively and make the right reads aggressively.

“So drive to the paint. It’s going to roll. It’s usually on free throws.”

For the game, the Cavaliers had 16 free throw attempts, while the Pistons had 35. That being said, Mitchell was quick to point out, “The free throw disparity is not why we lost tonight.”

The Pistons forced 20 turnovers that led to 31 points in a strong performance against Cleveland’s strong backcourt of Mitchell and James Harden.

Harden himself committed seven turnovers and took the blame on himself.

“Look inside before you,” he said. “Look at my turnovers and a lot of them are just on me and they didn’t do anything.”

During his postgame availability with reporters, Mitchell also mentioned that a friend of his “got fined for talking about flopping.”

Mitchell did not specify the friend in question. Boston Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown was Fined $50,000 by the NBA Tuesday for public criticism of the officiating during a recent live stream, which included making pointed comments about her Philadelphia 76ers the star Joel Embiid typing The flop that “ruined our game.”

“I’m not going to try to double down, but I mean, like, I feel like that’s what I have to do at this point. You know what I mean?” Mitchell said. “Like I’m trying to get downfield, trying to get to the bucket, and sometimes my guys are in my way and I’m trying to fight through contact and I’m not getting these calls.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.