Darius Garland scored 18 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:13 remaining, as the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted the visiting Denver Nuggets 113-108 on Friday night.
Donovan Mitchell had 33 points and Jarrett Allen posted eight points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won their third straight after trailing by double digits early in the third quarter. Garland added eight assists and De’Andre Hunter had 16 points.
Jamal Murray scored a game-high 34 points and had six rebounds and seven assists for Denver, which was without four starters, topped by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is out until February after hyperextending his left knee at the Miami Heat on Dec. 29.
Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists, ranking first in the league in the latter two categories. Christian Braun (left ankle), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring) and Cam Johnson (right knee) also were inactive.
The Cavaliers used a 10-0 run to erase their 105-101 deficit midway through the fourth, holding the Nuggets scoreless for 4:37 until Murray drained a 3-pointer with six ticks remaining. Garland then made two free throws to ice the win.
Cleveland held Denver to 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Peyton Watson scored 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 15 points off the bench for Denver. Zeke Nnaji had 13 points and five rebounds while splitting time at center, and two-way player Spencer Jones also scored 13.
Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 10 points in the third as Denver took the largest lead of the game at 76-65 before going into the fourth up 97-88. Mitchell had 13 and Garland had eight in the period for Cleveland.
The Cavaliers carried a 62-59 advantage into halftime, powered by Mitchell’s 14 points and 12 from Hunter. Murray had 28 points and four assists in 18 minutes.
Evan Mobley had six points and four rebounds in the first quarter as Cleveland led 28-24, despite Murray scoring 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. The Cavaliers outrebounded Denver 17-6 with Jaylon Tyson and Allen also having four.
Cleveland guard Sam Merrill (left ankle sprain) and forward Dean Wade (left knee soreness) were late scratches after being hurt Wednesday in a home win over the Phoenix Suns.
–Field Level Media
