Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland drives on Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther within the second half of an NBA basketball sport, 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 evening.
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 profitable its third in a row. The Cavaliers outscored Denver by 42 within the 29 minutes that Allen was on the court docket.
“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 taking part in basketball the precise approach 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 hassle 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 not less than 20 factors and 10 rebounds since Elgin Baylor in 1967.
“They had been higher than us immediately,” Jokic stated. “I assumed we performed a bit of stagnant and wanted extra motion. They had 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 last three quarters, outrebounded the Nuggets 47-33 with energy ahead Mobley and middle Allen each fronting and taking part in 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 exhausting for him to catch the ball,” stated Garland, who additionally had six assists. “We had been a bit of shorthanded and our protection carried us all the sport. 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 profitable its first two. The Nuggets are 0-2 on a five-game journey that ends Friday in Houston.
“We’re not rebounding as a group,” Jokic stated. “Generally 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 top-of-the-line gamers in our sport,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “He made Jokic work for every thing.”
Nuggets capturing guard Jamal Murray, who missed his sixth straight sport with a proper hamstring pressure, is touring with the group. Coach Michael Malone has not dominated out him returning on the journey.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Go to Detroit on Monday evening.
Cavaliers: Go to Philadelphia on Tuesday evening.
Supply: sports activities.inquirer.internet