The Cleveland Cavaliers showcased their home dominance Thursday night with a 126-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets, improving their stellar home record to 13-1.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 28 points, while Darius Garland chipped in 24. The Cavs were electric from beyond the arc, draining a season-high 22 three-pointers and extending their streak of games with at least 10 triples to a franchise-record 28.
The Nuggets, despite a phenomenal performance from Nikola Jokic, couldn’t keep pace. Jokic recorded his 139th career triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists, surpassing Hall of Famer Magic Johnson on the all-time list. He now sits third, trailing only Oscar Robertson (181) and Russell Westbrook (200). However, Denver’s defensive lapses on the perimeter proved costly, as Cleveland outscored them 66-18 from three-point range.
Caris LeVert provided a spark off the bench for Cleveland, scoring 21 points, while Evan Mobley added 20 and Jarrett Allen grabbed 15 rebounds. The Cavaliers’ balanced attack and versatility were on full display as they improved to 5-0 against Western Conference teams this season.
For Denver, Michael Porter Jr. contributed 24 points, and Jamal Murray added 19, but the team’s inability to contest Cleveland’s shooters effectively left them chasing the game from the outset.
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Takeaways from the Game
Nuggets: Denver’s defensive struggles were glaring, particularly on the perimeter. The Cavaliers opened the game on fire from three-point range, hitting nine triples in the first quarter alone to build an early 12-point lead. While Jokic’s brilliance kept them within striking distance, Denver simply couldn’t find answers to Cleveland’s outside shooting.
Cavaliers: Cleveland’s offense showed impressive versatility, combining lethal perimeter shooting with strong interior play. Their ability to spread the floor with consistent three-point shooting, coupled with contributions from the bench, underlines why they’ve been nearly unbeatable at home.
Key Moments
The Nuggets managed to stay within nine points with under three minutes to play, but back-to-back three-pointers from Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert sealed the game. The Cavaliers also had an off-court highlight when a fan sunk a half-court shot during a timeout, earning a $10,000 prize and rousing the crowd further.
Key Stat
While Jokic continues to deliver MVP-level performances, his heavy workload is becoming a concern. Now in his 10th season, Jokic is averaging a career-high 37.6 minutes per game. Nuggets coach Michael Malone admitted it’s a challenge to balance the need to win games with the risk of overworking the three-time MVP, saying, “We’ve all got to make sure we don’t run him into the ground.”
What’s Next?
The Nuggets will look to bounce back on Saturday against the two-win Washington Wizards, an opponent struggling with a historic losing streak. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers face back-to-back weekend matchups against Charlotte and Miami, aiming to maintain their momentum and protect their league-best home record.
This win solidified Cleveland’s status as one of the most dangerous teams in the league when firing on all cylinders. For Denver, it was a reminder that even Jokic’s brilliance can’t compensate for defensive deficiencies against elite competition.
