The Cleveland Cavaliers (27-4) secured their sixth consecutive win with a commanding 149-135 victory over the Denver Nuggets (16-13) on Friday night. Donovan Mitchell led the charge, scoring 33 points, while Evan Mobley added 26 as Cleveland set a season high for points.
Nikola Jokic recorded his 12th triple-double of the season for Denver, finishing with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. Jamal Murray also tallied 27 points with 10 assists, but the Nuggets’ defensive struggles proved costly.
Denver allowed season highs in points for both the first half (80) and the game, as the absence of Aaron Gordon due to a calf strain left their defense vulnerable. Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 of his 18 points in the opening quarter, but his impact waned as Cleveland took control.
Darius Garland delivered 25 points and sparked a decisive 16-0 second-quarter run that turned a three-point deficit into a commanding lead. The Cavaliers maintained a double-digit advantage for the rest of the game, never letting the Nuggets close the gap.
Cleveland’s starters shone across the board, with all five shooting above 50% from the field. Jarrett Allen posted 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Dean Wade added 11 points. The Cavaliers’ bench chipped in 30 points, including 13 from Caris LeVert and nine from Sam Merrill.
Mitchell’s six three-pointers on 50% shooting from deep highlighted Cleveland’s perimeter accuracy, as the team connected on 23 of 48 attempts from beyond the arc.
For the Nuggets, Christian Braun scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Peyton Watson contributed 18 off the bench. Despite Denver shooting a respectable 56% from the field, they couldn’t match Cleveland’s relentless offensive firepower.
