Donovan Mitchell explodes for 33 as Cavaliers outlast shorthanded Nuggets
Alta Sports3 months ago · 176 views
Photo: Getty Images
By Rafael Bandayrel
The Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted the Denver Nuggets, 113-108, during their 2025-26 NBA regular season cross-conference matchup on Saturday morning (PH time) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Donovan Mitchell exploded for 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists to lead the Cavs to victory. Darius Garland provided solid support, finishing with 17 points and the game-icing free throws in the closing seconds.
It was a back-and-forth battle for much of the morning, with Denver holding a slim lead late in the fourth. Down by four with just 4:43 remaining, the Cavaliers staged an explosive 10-0 scoring run to seize momentum and claim the advantage.
The Nuggets continued to struggle without superstar center Nikola Jokic, who is expected to miss at least four weeks after hyperextending his knee on Tuesday. Despite his absence, Denver kept things tense until the final buzzer. With 14 seconds remaining, Jamal Murray kept his team within striking distance by knocking down a huge triple to trim the lead to a single possession.
However, Garland maintained his composure under pressure, forcing his way to the charity stripe and sinking two clutch shots to ice the game. Denver’s final attempt to bridge the gap fell short as Cleveland’s defense held firm.
With their third straight win, Cleveland improved to 20-16 and will now prepare for a major test against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Monday. The Nuggets, now 23-11, will look to regroup as they navigate a difficult stretch without their reigning MVP.
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Anything Basketball
The Cavaliers won the game, but the Nuggets undoubtedly won respect! 3 months agoReply
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Cleveland Cavaliers
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NBA Detective
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Nikola Jokic
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