With his 22nd triple-double of the year, Nikola Jokic finished with 26 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-101 on Sunday to secure a postseason trip.
Jokic almost missed Friday’s loss to Minnesota due to a painful right wrist, but he still recorded his 128th career triple-double.
Due to knee and ankle problems, Denver guard Jamal Murray missed his fifth straight game, but according to coach Michael Malone, he has improved. Due to a variety of injuries, he has missed 21 games.
Denver ended a two-game home losing streak behind a season-high 22 points from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who made 6 of 9 3-pointers. To start in Murray’s place, Reggie Jackson scored 19 points, and Michael Porter Jr. added 19 points for the Nuggets (52-23), who came into the game trailing Minnesota and Oklahoma City by a half game for the top spot in the Western Conference.
They have made it to the postseason six times in a row.
Cleveland has lost eight of twelve games. Jarrett Allen scored 19 points and Evan Mobley scored 23 for the Cavaliers. For fourth place in the East, the Cavaliers (45-30) started the day a half-game ahead of New York.
In just his second game back after missing six due to a broken nose, Donovan Mitchell made two of the game’s first ten attempts, finishing with 13 points for Cleveland.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated, “He wants to be out there with his teammates and he wants to play.” It will take some time to regain your rhythm after taking a break, but he wants to compete and attempt to put us in the best possible position going ahead.
The five-game road trip began on Sunday, but Cleveland forward Dean Wade (knee) was unable to play.
It is difficult to perform at your best when four of your top eight players are absent for an extended period of time, according to Bickerstaff.
With 5:04 remaining in the third quarter, Jokic scored a triple-double by dishing a lob assist to Aaron Gordon, giving the Nuggets an 85-66 lead. Later, he found Jackson for a basket via a behind-the-back pass.
Regarding Jokic, Jackson stated, “He is one of the most gifted scorers in this league and he does not want to score.” Because of his desire to pass the ball and play the right way, he is very challenging to guard.
With 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in the first half, he came dangerously close to a triple-double, but it was Christian Braun who started a run that gave Denver a lead at the half.
The Nuggets were up 58-50 when Braun stole an inbounds pass and made a layup, nailed a corner 3-pointer off a tip-assist from Jokic, and made a driving layup.
Jackson stated, “You always got a chance to get a shot if you play the right way.” “This star is the brightest; it is a supernova. He really is the sun. He is the center of attention for everything.
In the third quarter, Denver outscored the Cavaliers 36–21.