Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland drives on Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther within the second half of an NBA basketball recreation, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Picture/David Dermer)
CLEVELAND — Darius Garland scored 26 factors and undrafted rookie Craig Porter Jr. had a career-high 21 factors, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 121-109 victory over the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Sunday night time.
Evan Mobley had 16 factors and 10 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen added 15 factors for Cleveland, which constructed a season-high 26-point lead en path to successful its third in a row. The Cavaliers outscored Denver by 42 within the 29 minutes that Allen was on the courtroom.
“Everybody stepped as much as the plate, that’s what received us the win,” Mobley stated. “J.A. performed an enormous half with placing strain on the rim. Between him and me and D.G., it was only a murals enjoying basketball the fitting manner and doing issues collectively.”
CPJ stated “we’re having a sunday FUNday”.@craigporter0 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/ZlDsonTZba
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 20, 2023
Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic battled foul bother and had 18 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists in 28 minutes. The 2-time MVP had been the primary participant to begin a season with 12 video games of no less than 20 factors and 10 rebounds since Elgin Baylor in 1967.
“They have been higher than us at this time,” Jokic stated. “I assumed we performed somewhat stagnant and wanted extra motion. They have been getting no matter they wished on the offensive glass and within the lane.”
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who’s averaging 29.2 factors, was inactive with a proper hamstring pressure and sixth man Caris LeVert didn’t play due to a sore left knee.
Cleveland, which didn’t path within the closing three quarters, outrebounded the Nuggets 47-33 with energy ahead Mobley and middle Allen each fronting and enjoying behind Jokic on many possessions.
sunday SAVED by the bell.⏱️@dariusgarland22 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/fjsHkAuevx
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 20, 2023
“Give all credit score to our bigs, they did a hell of a job guarding Jokic and made it onerous for him to catch the ball,” stated Garland, who additionally had six assists. “We have been somewhat shorthanded and our protection carried us the whole recreation. That was the important thing, I assumed.”
Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 factors and Christian Braun had 13 factors off the bench for Denver, which dropped its fourth straight on the highway after successful its first two. The Nuggets are 0-2 on a five-game journey that ends Friday in Houston.
“We’re not rebounding as a crew,” Jokic stated. “Typically we don’t field out and generally it’s fortunate bounces, however these are excuses.”
Garland scored 16 factors and Mobley had 12 within the first half because the Cavaliers took a 66-58 benefit into the break. Allen scored their first eight factors within the third, then absorbed a flagrant foul from Jokic minutes later that was his fifth private.
“I assumed Jarrett was phenomenal, taking the problem guarding among the best gamers in our recreation,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “He made Jokic work for every part.”
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Nuggets taking pictures guard Jamal Murray, who missed his sixth straight recreation with a proper hamstring pressure, is touring with the crew. Coach Michael Malone has not dominated out him returning on the journey.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Go to Detroit on Monday night time.
Cavaliers: Go to Philadelphia on Tuesday night time.
