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Cavs score vs. Denver Nuggets | Cleveland Cavaliers recap after 20th win
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- Cavs score vs. Denver Nuggets | Cleveland Cavaliers recap after 20th win
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers bolstered their NBA-best record as they took down Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets with a 126-114 win Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cavs entered the night 19-3 and in position to hold the first seed in the East, as they were coming off an easy win over the rebuilding Washington Wizards . Coach Kenny Atkinson has the Cavs "doubling down" on their strengths , and with it, Cleveland has league's best offense. The Nuggets entered 11-8 this season.
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The Cavs are the first team in the NBA to hit the 20-win mark.
Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from Thursday's game.
Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates his three-point basket in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavs, Nuggets final score, recap: Cleveland improves to 20-3 with win
The Cavs became the first 20-win team in the NBA with a 126-114 win over the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic finished with a 27-20-11 night.
Jarrett Allen had eight points and 15 rebounds. And "Cavs Frog" is back.
Cavaliers have 3 20-point scorers vs. Nuggets; Nikola Jokic has triple-double
The Cavs are on the verge of improving to 20-3.
Donovan Mitchell has a game-high 28 points to go with six assists. Darius Garland has 24 points. Caris LeVert has 21 points and six assists off the bench in what has been a huge return-to-form night for him.
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Nikola Jokic has yet another triple double with 25 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists. He's a fantasy basketball monster.
Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks to rebound between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and center Jarrett Allen (31) in the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Donovan Mitchell heating up; Cavs cruising over Nuggets in fourth quarter
Donovan Mitchell is starting to turn it on now. He's been hot from the floor and is now up to 25 points tonight, as the Cavs have opened up a 112-94 lead with 7:15 left. Nikola Jokic had to get a breather on the bench, and the Cavs surged ahead while taking advantage of it.
Cavs hit 100-point mark in third quarter vs. Nuggets
The Cavs are pouring it on now and have opened up a 100-84 lead with just under two minutes left in the third quarter.
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Sam Merrill drilled a 3 to get to triple digits.
Caris LeVert is now up to 18 points tonight, as is Donovan Mitchell. Those two have powered the Cavs offense.
Nikola Jokic has 21 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, but he did just missed a series of shots near the basket.
The Cavs are 19 of 38 from 3-point range, and it's just been too much for the Nuggets, who are still shooting just 25 percent from behind the arc.
Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) in the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Isaac Okoro ruled out with injury
Cavs guard/forward Isaac Okoro has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a left knee contusion.
The Cavs lead the Nuggets 79-74 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
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Cavaliers lead Nuggets at halftime
It's kind of amazing that the Nuggets are just 1 for 10 from 3-point range, but they still put up a 62-point first half. The Cavs lead just 66-62 despite hitting 50 percent of their 3s.
Caris LeVert has a team-high 16 points and four assists thus far. Evan Mobley has 13 points and four rebounds. Donovan Mitchell has 13 points.
Nikola Jokic has a game-high 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. He's on pace for another monster night.
Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Nuggets cut Cavaliers lead to one possession
The Nuggets just went on a 9-0 run, capped by Nikola Jokic's and-1 layup, and the Cavs lead is down to 60-58 with 2:53 left in the second quarter.
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Amazingly, the Cavaliers are outscoring the Nuggets 36-0 from behind the 3-point line tonight. The Cavs have been almost all from the perimeter, the Nuggets have been all inside the paint and right to the rim.
Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates his three-point basket in the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Who's winning the Cavs-Nuggets game? Caris LeVert has huge first quarter
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson spoke before the game about how Caris LeVert has played well since returning to the rotation, but that his timing has just been a bit off, and he needs a few more games under his belt.
He looked pretty great in the first quarter tonight.
LeVert poured in 14 points in the first quarter alone, including four 3s, all of them from the corner. He has the Cavs leading 37-27 after the opening quarter.
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Nikola Jokic had his usual (incredible) quarter, scoring 12 points and eight rebounds. Though we all know he'd rather be spending time with his horses .
Dec 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots beside Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavs, Nuggets score: Cleveland takes early lead in Cleveland
Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro hit back-to-back 3s from the corner, and the Cavs have taken a 16-10 lead in the first quarter against the Nuggets.
The Cavs are already 4 of 7 from 3-point range at the 7:42 mark in the opening quarter.
Nikola Jokic is just 2 of 6 to open the game.
Cavaliers wearing City Connect jerseys
The Cavs are wearing their powder blue City Connect uniforms tonight, along with a special court that has "THE LAND" inscribed at midcourt, along with sidelines and paint areas that match the color scheme. They look pretty sharp. These were well done.
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Below is some pregame information.
Cleveland Cavaliers mascot Moondog reacts in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.
Cavs vs. Nuggets injury report; Ty Jerome expected to play
The Cavs are expected to have point guard Ty Jerome available off the bench against the Nuggets Thursday night. Jerome missed Tuesday's game with an illness. Max Strus remains out of the startling lineup with a sprained right ankle.
More on Cavs: NBA Coach of Year favorite Kenny Atkinson is a fascinating Cleveland Cavs boss | Ulrich
New Cleveland Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month
On Tuesday, the NBA announced Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November. It's the first time Atkinson has earned Coach of the Month accolades in his career. He became the eighth coach in Cavs history to win the award.
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In Atkinson's first season with the Cavs , they went 17-3 in October and November.
Cavaliers honor Cleveland Browns player and Cavs minority owner Myles Garrett with bobblehead
The Cavs honored Browns star and NBA enthusiast Garrett with his own bobblehead night on Tuesday. He was seated courtside for the Cavs-Wizards game.
The bobblehead features Garrett , the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a Cavaliers minority owner , sporting a No. 95 Cavs jersey and holding a rally towel.
"He's a great player, obviously, one of the greatest D-ends," Mobley said Tuesday morning after shootaround.
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Garrett, 28, bought a stake in the Cavs last year.
"That's huge for him," Okoro said. "I mean, being a part owner for a team, that's big time. That's things you think about down the line in your career."
How can I watch, listen, stream Cavs vs. Nuggets game?
Thursday night's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
More Cleveland Cavs coverage: 'I'm no punk': Darius Garland is 'accepting the challenge' from Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson on defense
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs game score vs Nuggets updates, highlights, analysis
