Cleveland Cavaliers Hold Off the Denver Nuggets

Let’s be real: Friday night wasn’t exactly a masterpiece hanging in the Louvre. But in the NBA, you don’t ask how, you ask how many. And right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are counting three straight wins after surviving a 113-108 brawl against a depleted Denver Nuggets squad.

Donovan Mitchell Saves the Day

If you’re looking for the hero of this story, look no further than Donovan Mitchell. The man simply refused to let Cleveland lose, dropping 33 points when the offense felt like it was wading through mud.

He wasn’t alone in the struggle; turnovers were haunting the Cavaliers all night, but Mitchell’s ability to conjure buckets out of thin air kept the lights on at Rocket Arena. He added five assists to his tally, though the four turnovers were a reminder that this game was a grind from start to finish.

Fourth Quarter Defense: The Turning Point

Here is where the game actually flipped. Entering the final frame down nine, things looked bleak. The Nuggets, missing four of their five regular starters, were playing with house money and, frankly, outworking Cleveland.

Then, the Cavs woke up. They put the clamps on Denver, holding the Nuggets to a miserable 11 points in the fourth quarter on 4-of-20 shooting. Cleveland started crashing the glass, ripping down five offensive rebounds in the quarter and turning hustle into nine crucial second-chance points. It was the kind of gritty, ugly defensive effort that makes coaches lose their hair but win ballgames.

Jamal Murray: The One-Man Army

You have to tip your cap to Jamal Murray. Without Jokic or the rest of the starting crew, Murray went nuclear in the first half, scoring 28 of his 34 points before the break. He was cooking everything the Cavs threw at him.

But adjustments are part of the game. In the second half, the Cavaliers decided enough was enough, trapping Murray and forcing the ball out of his hands. It worked. Murray cooled off, and while his teammates stepped up in the third quarter, they couldn’t sustain it when the pressure mounted in the fourth.

The Supporting Cast Steps Up

While Mitchell grabbed the headlines, let’s not overlook the bench mob. De’Andre Hunter was steady as a rock, chipping in 16 points and 5 boards. And then there’s Lonzo Ball. The box score says 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, but anyone watching knows his impact went way beyond the numbers.

Darius Garland had a rollercoaster night—18 points and 8 assists are great, but six turnovers? Not so much. Still, he made plays when it mattered.

What’s Next For the Cavaliers?

It was ugly, stressful, and definitely closer than it should have been against a shorthanded team. But a win is a win, and the streak lives on.

Now, the real test comes on Sunday. The conference-leading Detroit Pistons are coming to town. If the Cavaliers want to make it four in a row, they’ll need to clean up the mistakes.