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Mitchell scores 33, Cavs beat Nuggets 149-135 for 6th straight win
DENVER (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, Evan Mobley had 26 points and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 149-135 on Friday night for their sixth straight win.
Cleveland set a season high in points and improved to 10-1 since dropping two in a row to Atlanta last month.
Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for his league-leading 12th triple-double of the season, and Jamal Murray also had 27 with 10 assists for Denver, which has dropped two in a row.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 of the Nuggets’ first 25 points to help keep pace with the Cavaliers but only scored five the rest of the way.
Cleveland led by as many as 19 to improve its NBA-best record to 27-4.
Cavaliers: Passed the first test in what is the start of their toughest road trip of the season. All five starters made more than half of their field goal attempts and all but Dean Wade scored 20 or more points.
Nuggets: Their porous defense was hurt by the absence of Aaron Gordon, who is out with a right calf strain. They allowed season highs in points and points in the first half (80).
With Denver leading 53-50 early in the second quarter, Darius Garland sparked a 16-0 run with six of his 25 points that allowed the Cavaliers to take control of the game. Their lead never dipped below double digits the rest of the way.
Mitchell was 6 of 12 from 3-point range.
The Cavaliers continue their four-game trip out west at Golden State on Monday night, while the Nuggets host Detroit on Saturday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jarrett Allen vs. Nikola Jokic (Michael Porter Jr. gains possession) | ||
| 11:39 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:14 |  | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving finger roll layup | 2-2 |
| 10:53 | | Donovan Mitchell shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 10:53 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-3 |
| 10:53 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-4 |
| 10:43 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 5-4 |
| 10:24 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 5-6 |
| 10:12 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jarrett Allen assists) | 7-6 |
| 9:51 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:49 | | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 7-8 |
| 9:37 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Donovan Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 9:30 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 9-8 |
| 9:14 | | Jarrett Allen personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 9:04 | | Jamal Murray misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 9:03 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point tip layup | ||
| 9:02 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +3 | Dean Wade makes three point jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 12-8 |
| 8:33 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point cutting dunk | ||
| 8:31 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | Christian Braun shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 8:29 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-8 |
| 8:29 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-8 |
| 8:13 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 14-11 |
| 7:49 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:45 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:44 | | Darius Garland shooting foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 7:44 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:44 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 7:44 | | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-12 |
| 7:29 | | +3 | Dean Wade makes three point jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 17-12 |
| 7:04 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point pullup jump shot | 17-14 |
| 7:04 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:54 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point pullup jump shot (Dean Wade assists) | 19-14 |
| 6:33 | | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:29 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 6:25 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point running pullup jump shot | 21-14 |
| 6:07 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 21-17 |
| 5:59 | | Darius Garland misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:57 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | Jamal Murray misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 5:44 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 5:38 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point layup (Max Strus assists) | 23-17 |
| 5:29 | | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Jarrett Allen steals) | ||
| 5:25 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point running dunk (Dean Wade assists) | 25-17 |
| 5:25 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:13 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 25-20 |
| 5:01 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Caris LeVert assists) | 27-20 |
| 4:45 | | +2 | Julian Strawther makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 27-22 |
| 4:34 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 4:33 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 4:27 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 27-25 |
| 4:16 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:13 | | Caris LeVert offensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:08 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 4:03 | | Julian Strawther turnover (bad pass) (Darius Garland steals) | ||
| 4:00 | | Caris LeVert misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:56 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 3:55 | | Darius Garland misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:52 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:42 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 27-27 |
| 3:18 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:17 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | ||
| 2:59 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 2:58 | | Hunter Tyson shooting foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | ||
| 2:58 | | +1 | Darius Garland makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-27 |
| 2:58 | | +1 | Darius Garland makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-27 |
| 2:38 | | +3 | Peyton Watson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 29-30 |
| 2:21 | | Evan Mobley misses two point alley-oop dunk | ||
| 2:20 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 2:17 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running dunk (Peyton Watson assists) | 29-32 |
| 2:17 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:04 | | +2 | Max Strus makes two point cutting layup (Evan Mobley assists) | 31-32 |
| 1:56 | | Max Strus personal foul (Julian Strawther draws the foul) | ||
| 1:49 | | Evan Mobley shooting foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | ||
| 1:49 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-33 |
| 1:49 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-34 |
| 1:39 | | Max Strus turnover (bad pass) (Nikola Jokic steals) | ||
| 1:35 | | Caris LeVert shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 1:35 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-35 |
| 1:35 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-36 |
| 1:26 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 34-36 |
| 1:06 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:06 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | Max Strus misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 1:00 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 0:54 | | Christian Braun turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 0:38 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 37-36 |
| 0:30 | | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:27 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 40-36 |
| 0:01 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamal Murray assists) | 40-38 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:53 | | Evan Mobley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:49 | | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:35 | | Jamal Murray misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:32 | | Sam Merrill defensive rebound | ||
| 11:25 | | DeAndre Jordan shooting foul (Evan Mobley draws the foul) | ||
| 11:25 | | +1 | Evan Mobley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-38 |
| 11:25 | | Evan Mobley misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 11:23 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 11:13 | | Jamal Murray misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:12 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 11:03 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Georges Niang assists) | 44-38 |
| 10:38 | | +3 | Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 44-41 |
| 10:23 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point cutting dunk (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 46-41 |
| 10:02 | | +2 | Julian Strawther makes two point driving layup (Peyton Watson assists) | 46-43 |
| 9:53 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:51 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:44 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 46-45 |
| 9:27 | | Evan Mobley misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 9:25 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:20 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | ||
| 9:20 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-46 |
| 9:20 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-47 |
| 9:10 | | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 9:10 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-47 |
| 9:10 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-47 |
| 8:55 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving floating jump shot | 48-49 |
| 8:47 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup (Ty Jerome assists) | 50-49 |
| 8:23 | | Peyton Watson misses two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | ||
| 8:18 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 8:13 | | Max Strus misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 8:10 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 8:08 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Julian Strawther draws the foul) | ||
| 8:08 | | +1 | Julian Strawther makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-50 |
| 8:08 | | +1 | Julian Strawther makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-51 |
| 7:49 | | Darius Garland misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:45 | | Dean Wade offensive rebound | ||
| 7:44 | | Sam Merrill misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:41 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 7:31 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving finger roll layup | 50-53 |
| 7:23 | | DeAndre Jordan blocks Ty Jerome's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:23 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 7:16 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 52-53 |
| 6:58 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive foul (Sam Merrill draws the foul) | ||
| 6:58 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:55 | | Ty Jerome misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:52 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 6:35 | | Jamal Murray misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:32 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:31 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||