Donovan Mitchell and the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers didn't mind getting pounded inside the paint as long as their shots were falling beyond the arc.
Mitchell poured 28 points as the Cavaliers drained more threes against the Denver Nuggets to claim their third straight win, 126-114, on Friday, December 6.
Darius Garland 24 markers, including 14 alone in the third frame. Despite allowing 76 points in the paint, Cleveland drilled 22 treys compared to Denver’s six all-game long.
Darius "BUCK3T" Garland. 🪣@dariusgarland22 | #LetEmKnow
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 6, 2024
Caris LeVert fired 14 of his 21 points in the opening period as Cavs won three straight for the first time since starting the season 15-0.
Caris LeVert back-to-back 3s to close the 1Q... he's up to 14 points EARLY!
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2024
Nuggets-Cavs is LIVE on NBA TV 🍿
📲 https://t.co/xq9jRaf8Ci
They improved to 13-1 at home and 20-4 overall, two games ahead of the defending champion Boston Celtics (18-4) for the best record of the league.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic finished with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists for his ninth triple-double of the season. He is now the no. 3 in league's all-time trip dub record with 139.
Congrats to Nikola Jokic of the @nuggets for moving to 3rd on the all-time TRIPLE-DOUBLES list!
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2024
Michael Porter Jr. added 24 markers for the Nuggets, who dropped to 11-9 with the loss.
Cleveland visits the Hornets (6-15) in Charlotte next while Denver continue their road trip in the Washington to take on the Wizards (2-17).
