Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell, Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA players of week

Donovan Mitchell is back in the spotlight, and the Cavaliers will happily take it.

The Cavs’ All-Star guard has been named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 31.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in a 3-1 stretch.

Cleveland needed a spark with bodies still missing, and Mitchell delivered one of his best weeks of the season.

Out West, defending champion Oklahoma City kept rolling behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who grabbed Western Conference Player of the Week honors.

SGA averaged 31.0 points and 6.5 assists on 60 percent shooting, powering the Thunder to a 4-0 week. It’s already his second weekly award of the season.

Other nominees out West included Memphis’ Santi Aldama, the Lakers’ Luka Doncic, San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox, the Clippers’ James Harden and Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

In the East, Mitchell topped a group that featured Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Chicago’s Josh Giddey, Toronto’s Brandon Ingram, Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Miami’s Norman Powell and Kel’el Ware, Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins and Orlando’s Franz Wagner.

Another strong week for Mitchell. Another reminder that the Cavs often go as far as their star goes.