LOS ANGELES: Donovan Mitchell scored 28 factors and the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers drilled a season-high 22 three-pointers in a 126-114 NBA victory over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Thursday (Dec 5).
Darius Garland added 24 factors and Caris LeVert contributed 21 off the bench because the Cavs withstood a triple-double from NBA Most Priceless Participant Jokic to enhance to 13-1 at house and 20-3 general.
Cleveland made 22 three-pointers off 48 makes an attempt as Denver linked with simply three of their 24 makes an attempt from past the arc.
The Nuggets made it shut within the first half with a powerful exhibiting within the paint, the place they might out-score the Cavs 76-40.
Jokic scored 27 factors with 20 rebounds and 11 assists for the 139th triple-double of his profession, shifting previous legendary Earvin “Magic” Johnson (138) for third-most all-time.
Russell Westbrook the checklist with 200 profession triple-doubles – reaching double digits in three key statistical classes — and Oscar Robertson is second with 181.
The exploits of Serbian star Jokic, who earned a 3rd MVP award final season, helped the Nuggets claw again from an 18-point second-half deficit and minimize the result in 9 with lower than 4 minutes to play.
However LeVert and Donovan answered with three-pointers and the Cavs cruised house.
“It took everyone,” Mitchell stated. “Jokic is MVP for a cause, he makes that crew phenomenal.”
Jokic referred to as his stand up the triple-double checklist “an important factor,” however stated it is extra one thing to look again on “after you end your profession.”
After watching his crew fall to 11-9, Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated he was extra involved about getting the 2023 NBA champions on a agency upward trajectory.
“I really like Nikola, I actually do, and I am lucky to teach him and he is among the finest to ever do it,” Malone stated. “However I am simply a lot extra involved about my crew proper now.”
In Washington, Luka Doncic additionally climbed on the all-time triple-double checklist, scoring 21 factors with 10 rebounds and 10 assists because the Dallas Mavericks piled extra distress on the Wizards with a 137-101 victory.
Along with his 78th profession triple-double the 25-year-old Slovenian star tied Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden for seventh place.
Dallas guard Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 25 factors and the Mavs handed the Wizards a sixteenth straight defeat – matching the crew’s longest-ever dropping streak.
The Mavs, in distinction, have gained six straight and 10 of their final 11.
THUNDER ROLL
Oklahoma Metropolis guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander placed on a present in his hometown, scoring 30 factors to steer the Western Convention-leading Thunder to a crushing 129-92 victory over the Raptors in Toronto.
The Thunder notched a sixth win of their final seven video games to push their document to 17-5.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s suffocating defensive effort included 14 steals and 11 blocked pictures they usually turned 19 Toronto turnovers into 28 factors.
In San Francisco, Jonathan Kuminga scored a career-high 33 factors to steer the Golden State Warriors to a 99-93 victory over the Houston Rockets in a preview of their NBA Cup quarter-final subsequent week.
Andrew Wiggins added 23 factors and 9 rebounds for Golden State, who snapped a five-game dropping streak regardless of lacking stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced.
In New York, a giant third quarter noticed the Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets 125-101 to push their profitable streak to 4 video games.
Karl-Anthony Cities scored 27 factors and grabbed 16 rebounds and OG Anunoby scored 15 of his 25 factors within the third, when the Knicks outscored the Hornets 38-16 to take management for good.
Brandon Miller scored 26 factors to steer the Hornets, who led by as many as 13 within the first quarter and have been down by simply three at halftime however spiraled to a seventh straight defeat.
