The Denver Nuggets had an 11 point fourth quarter lead but couldn’t hang on and lost the game 119-117 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Denver’s inability to close out wins on their home court in the clutch continued, falling to just 14-11 on their home court. The Nuggets got a triple double from Nikola Jokic with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, and Jamal Murray added 17 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists but was only 6-for-16 from the field. Julian Strawther had another good scoring game for Denver as both he and Christian Braun each scored 20, but it was not enough.
The Cavs were led by Donovan Mitchell’s 32 points and 10 assists, while James Harden and Jarrett Allen each had great double-doubles. Cleveland was able to execute down the stretch while the Nuggets struggled from the field late and tried to stay in touch from the line. The Nuggets have just one game to go before the All-Star Break and a much needed break, but they really need to figure out their clutch execution before they give away too many more games like this.
Game Flow
The Cavs scored the first three buckets off a turnover and a couple of misses before Julian Strawther hit a corner three for Denver, then finished a drive through contact for a traditional three-point play. After a few fouls, Strawther got blocked by Harden under the rim but Jokic was able to get a putback of his own miss. Donovan hit a pullup, Strawther hit one three and missed another while Jamal finished a layup at the rim. Christian had the ball stripped in transition, but Denver kept possession and Jamal Murray hit a layup to make it 15-8 Denver. The Cavs fired back with a Harden layup and a Jaylon Tyson three, but Denver answered with a Christian Braun three and then a Jokic-assisted Braun layup. Jarrett Allen had his shot blocked by Jokic but got it back and hit a last second shot, but Jokic got it back on free throws the other way. Jonas Valanciunas got in the game and hit a paint jumper, then Denver got to the line multiple times as Denver stretched its lead to 28-21. Mitchell made a floater over Jonas, then buried a three off a Big Val turnover, but a couple more Jonas free throws kept Denver in front at 30-26 after one.
Jokic came back in the game to start the second quarter and immediately got the steal and then an assist to Tim Hardaway for a three. Bruce Brown missed one the next time down but on defense Strawther grabbed a board and ran the length of the floor for a layup, then Cam Johnson deflected a ball for a steal that Jokic passed ahead for Cam to dunk and force an early Cleveland timeout. Thomas Bryant and Nae’Qwan Tomlin each hit threes for Cleveland, and Denver over-passed into a couple of turnovers as the Cavs closed the gap to one at 37-36. After a few more mistakes, Jokic found THJ in transition for a three, then Cam Johnson buried a deep shot of his own. Jamal Murray came back in the game and found Braun for a layup, which Sam Merrill answered with a 3 for Cleveland. Murray missed a three after a Cam steal, but found Cam for a three the next time down to make it 48-39 Denver. Jalen Tyson made a three for the Cavs, and Murray and Mitchell exchanged jumpers. Jonas hit a layup and Jamal found Cam in transition, but Allen answered back on the baseline. Harden and Strawther traded buckets, Harden’s free throws were countered by a Jokic floater and Denver went into halftime up 59-54.
Donovan Mitchell opened the scoring in the third with a deep three. Jokic hit a deep two, but the Cavs answered with another three and crashed the glass early against Denver. Jokic got to the foul line a couple times, then answered a Tyson layup for the Cavs with one of his own. Strawther had a great finish, Tyson hit a layup for Cleveland, and Braun made a nice three. Cam picked up his 4th foul with a questionable one on Harder though, and then Julian was stripped going to the rack as Denver had some unfortunate turnovers. Jokic got a steal on Harden but Jamal was blocked on his way to the rim, though he found CB for a dunk and then Braun hit a transition three for a 76-71 Denver lead. Denver missed a couple of shots and Allen and Harden made layups for Houston. Bruce Brown got a steal but CB missed the three, while Jamal hit his the next time down and Tim Hardaway got to the line. Jamal Murray had a pair of great finishes at the bucket, then traded free throws with Thomas Bryant. Mitchell buried a straight-away three, and Strawther missed a floater but Jonas picked up two free throws. Jamal and Julian each hit nice floaters in the final minute and Denver went into the fourth up 92-87.
Strawther got to the free throw line to start the fourth. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nae’Qwan Tomlin traded threes, then Jokic got to work. He went to the free throw line, made 14-foot jumper, then found Jalen Pickett for an open three as Denver went up 103-92. Julian missed a three, Harden hit his. Jokic and Braun got to the line, but Tyson and Merrill each hit threes for Cleveland to close the gap to 106-102. A Jamal turnover became an Allen oop finish, while Bruce Brown had his shot blocked and Hardaway missed a three. Christian Braun finally made a three for Denver, and Jonas got to the line after an offensive foul was overturned on review. Tyson hit another three though to close it to 111-108 before Jokic came back in. Mitchell hit a layup after Bruce Brown missed a paint attempt, but Jokic found THJ for a floater. Allen made a layup for the Cavs, but Joker went back at him and got free throws. Allen hit a dunk on a pick-and-roll, Jokic made a paint shot and Denver kept its three point lead. James Harden hit a three to tie it in the final minute, Hardaway missed a three, and Donovan Mitchell hit the crucial free throws to give the Cavs the lead. Denver squandered a 10 point fourth quarter lead and after a Jokic miss in the final second lost the game to the Cavs 119-117.
Final Thoughts
–Denver has to find its clutch gene. The Nuggets have had too many losses like this at home this year where teams hang around and Denver just can’t put them away. Maybe Denver’s players aren’t familiar enough with each other to have the right rhythm, but James Harden has been on the Cavs for two games and they have two late-game wins because of it. Denver’s stars, battered or not, have to start closing out these games for Denver. It’s great that Julian and Christian combined for 40, that’s a gift. They are not All-Stars, let alone Hall of Famers. Yes, it sucks that Denver’s injury list contains three of its best defenders in Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon, all of whom would have had the chance to come up bit in this game.
But in the clutch, when it matters, Denver has not been able to go to its bread-and-butter closers to get the job done – to make the right shot or the right pass or get the steal. It just hasn’t happened this year. Too many of these losses are piling up especially in Denver’s own arena. Hopefully the break finally gets everyone some rest and a good reset for the second half as Denver climbs out of this injury hole, but there is one game left before the break against Memphis and the Nuggets need to lock that win down just to stop their losing ways. They can’t go into the break losing 5 of 6… right?
