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Cavs score, recap vs Nuggets. Cavaliers game highlights, analysis
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- Cavs score, recap vs Nuggets. Cavaliers game highlights, analysis
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers captured their third consecutive win on Jan. 2, prevailing 113-108 over the Denver Nuggets , who were without three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic .
The up-and-down Cavs hadn't produced a three-game winning streak since they won four in a row from Nov. 2-8. Although the Cavs have been plagued by injuries and other issues, none of their problems is as detrimental as the one the Nuggets face as a result of Jokic suffering a hyperextended left knee on Dec. 29. Jokic will be out for at least four weeks .
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Still, the Cavs (20-16) had their hands full against the Nuggets (23-11) at Rocket Arena . Here is how the action unfolded through our updates :
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Cavs defeat Nuggets 113-108 with Darius Garland , Donovan Mitchell and De'Andre Hunter delivering in crunch time
Cavs point guard Darius Garland made a clutch 3-pointer on an assist from guard Donovan Mitchell after Mitchell gathered an offensive rebound. Garland's deep shot gave the Cavs a 107-105 lead with 2:14 left.
A few possessions later, Mitchell missed a 3, but Cavs wing De'Andre Hunter tipped the ball, and Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen secured it for an offensive rebound. Then Allen assisted to Mitchell on a dunk, giving the Cavs a 109-105 edge with 42.1 seconds remaining.
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With 13.7 seconds left, Hunter made two foul shots to extend Cleveland's advantage to 111-105.
However, the Nuggets made it a thriller to the end. Guard Jamal Murray made a 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds left, slicing Denver's deficit to 111-108.
The Nuggets fouled Garland, and he made two foul shots with 5.3 seconds remaining to put the Cavs ahead 113-108.
Murray led the Nuggets with a game-high 34 points, including 28 in the first half.
Mitchell had a team-high 33 points for the Cavs. Garland and Hunter added 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Cavs trail Nuggets 105-104 with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter
The Cavs trailed the Nuggets 105-104 during a timeout with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter.
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This game has the feel of one going down to the wire.
Cavs use 7-0 run to cut Nuggets' lead to 101-99 with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter
A 7-0 Cleveland run fueled by guard Craig Porter Jr. 's putback and 3-pointer and guard Donovan Mitchell's steal and fast-break dunk allowed the Cavs to cut the Nuggets' lead to 101-99 with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs outscored the Nuggets 11-4 to begin the fourth quarter.
Jan 2, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) grabs a rebound during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
Cavs trail Nuggets 97-88 at the end of the third quarter
The Cavs trailed the Nuggets 97-88 at the end of the third quarter.
Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. made an 8-foot jump shot at the buzzer to give the Nuggets a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
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With 41 seconds left, Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell made a layup and drew a foul, but he missed the subsequent free throw. Forward Peyton Watson then made a 3-pointer to push Denver's lead to 95-88 with 30 seconds left.
The Cavs were outscored 38-26 in the third quarter.
Cleveland slowed down Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in the third quarter, when he scored just three points after scoring 31 in the first half. However, Hardaway and Watson scored 10 points apiece in the third quarter.
Mitchell led the Cavs with 27 points through three quarters. He had 13 points in the third quarter alone.
Jan 2, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) drives on Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
Cavs awaken in the third quarter and trail Nuggets 79-78 with 5:13 left
The Nuggets outscored the Cavs 17-3 to begin the third quarter before Cleveland started to fight back with any seriousness.
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Darius Garland made a 3-pointer on an assist from fellow Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell with 8 minutes left in the third quarter, trimming Cleveland's deficit to 74-68.
Later, Garland assisted to guard Craig Porter Jr. on a successful 3 with 5:50 left. Then Garland drove for a layup with 5:13 remaining, prompting the Nuggets to call timeout with a one-point lead.
Cavs begin second half flat and trail Nuggets 71-65 with 9:11 left in the third quarter
The Nuggets began the third quarter with a 12-3 run. Meanwhile, the Cavs were practically sleepwalking.
The second half began with the Nuggets scoring on their first possession when the Cavs left guard Jamal Murray wide open for a 3-pointer. In case you didn't know, Murray burned the Cavs for 28 points in the first half, so he is the last person they should be forgetting about on defense.
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The discombobulated Cavs used a timeout with 9:11 left in the third quarter while trailing 71-65.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) looks to shoot against Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji (22) on Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland.
Cavs can't lead Nuggets 62-59 at halftime, but Cleveland Cavaliers can't stop Denver's Jamal Murray
The Cavs led the Nuggets 62-59 at halftime. If Cleveland wants to win, though, it must slow Denver guard Jamal Murray in the second half.
Murray crushed the Cavs in the first half with 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field (4 of 5 on 3-pointers). His season high entering the game was 52 points, and his career high was 55 points.
The Cavs were led by guard Donovan Mitchell's 14 points and wing De'Andre Hunter's 12 points off the bench.
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The Cavs dominated the rebounding battle 25-13 and outscored the Nuggets 32-20 in points in the paint through two quarters. Center Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with six rebounds, followed by forward Evan Mobley with five.
Still, Murray being virtually unstoppable proved to be the great equalizer for Denver in the first half.
Jan 2, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin (35) dunks during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
Cavs lead Nuggets 52-49 with 2:16 left in the second quarter
The Cavs are being tormented by Nuggets guard Jamal Murray. With 3:43 left in the second quarter, Murray made a technical free throw after the Cavs were whistled for a 3-second violation. He then made a 3-pointer with 3:36 left in the second quarter, trimming the Nuggets' deficit to 49-47.
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Cavs forward Evan Mobley missed a pair of free throws with 3:17 left. So far, he has missed each of his five foul shots.
Then the Nuggets tied the score 49-49 with forward Spencer Jones' dunk before Cavs wing De'Andre Hunter put Cleveland ahead 52-49 with a 3-pointer.
On the bright side, Lonzo Ball played well off the bench for the Cavs in the second quarter. In eight minutes of action, he went 2-of-2 shooting from the field (both were 3-pointers) for six points. He added an assist and a blocked shot. Ball didn't play in the previous two games (see more below).
Lonzo Ball returns to Cavs' rotation and makes first shot to give Cavaliers 37-28 lead with 8:49 left in the second quarter
Reserve guard Lonzo Ball started the second quarter for the Cavs.
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Ball didn't play in Cleveland's previous two games, but coach Kenny Atkinson insisted it wouldn't be a permanent change. Atkinson also cited ensuring Ball is healthy as part of his reasoning. Ball, of course, has a lengthy injury history.
With 8:49 left in the second quarter, Ball drained a wide-open 3-pointer, sending the Nuggets into a timeout with a 37-28 deficit. The nine-point difference was the Cavs' largest lead thus far. It was Ball's first shot of the game.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball stands back during free throws by the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, 2025, in Cleveland.
Cavs lead Nuggets 28-24 at the end of the first quarter
The Cavaliers led the Nuggets 28-24 at the end of the first quarter.
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Forward Evan Mobley led the Cavs with six points, followed by wing Jaylon Tyson with five points and center Jarrett Allen with four points. Those three players had four rebounds apiece, and the Cavs outrebounded the Nuggets 17-6 in the opening quarter. The Cavs also outscored the Nuggets 18-8 in the paint.
Yet, the Nuggets trailed by just four points entering the second quarter.
Guard Jamal Murray scored 16 of Denver's 24 points in the first quarter.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is trying to take down Cavs, mostly by himself
The Cavs led the Nuggets 20-17 with 2:32 left in the first quarter. The Cavs also led Nuggets guard Jamal Murray 17-14.
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At this early stage of the game, Murray is 6-of-11 shooting from the field (2 of 3 on 3-pointers) for 14 points. Forward Spencer Jones, with three points, is the only other member of the Nuggets who has scored thus far.
No one should believe this is sustainable, but Murray has kept the Nuggets neck and neck with the Cavs for at least most of the opening quarter. The Cavs might want to play better defense against him.
Cavaliers lead Nuggets 11-8 with 6:58 left in the first quarter
The Cavs led the Nuggets 11-8 with 6:58 remaining in the first quarter during a timeout.
A shot-clock violation and 3-second violation on the Cavs were evidence of a sloppy start to the game, yet Cleveland big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen took advantage of Denver's injuries at center in the early stages.
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Mobley and Allen had four points apiece at this juncture. Mobley had a putback to put the Cavs ahead 9-8 and an alley-oop dunk from guard Donovan Mitchell to give the Cavaliers an 11-8 edge.
Nuggets starting center DaRon Holmes II gets into early foul trouble vs. Cleveland Cavs
Without Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain), the Nuggets started DaRon Holmes II at center. Holmes picked up two fouls early in the game and went to the bench with 10:39 left in the first quarter.
Dec 31, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
Below is some pregame information.
Cavs injury report vs. Nuggets. Cavaliers rule out Dean Wade and Sam Merrill
The Cavs beat the San Antonio Spurs on the road on Dec. 29 and Phoenix Suns at home on Dec. 31 with forward Dean Wade starting alongside the core four of guard Donovan Mitchell, point guard Darius Garland, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen.
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However, the aforementioned starting lineup won't be used against the Nuggets because the Cavs ruled out Wade (left knee soreness) after initially listing him as questionable to face the Nuggets.
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Guard Sam Merrill (left ankle sprain) is also out after being listed as questionable.
Wing De'Andre Hunter (illness) is available after being listed as probable.
The Cavs ruled out forward Larry Nance Jr. (right calf strain), small forward Max Strus (left foot surgery in the offseason), forward Chris Livingston (two-way contract) and forward Luke Travers (two-way contract).
Dec 31, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after being fouled and making the basket during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
Cavs starting lineup vs. Nuggets
The Cavs announced they will start the following players against the Nuggets:
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Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, Allen and small forward Jaylon Tyson.
Nuggets injury report vs. Cavaliers
In addition to Jokic, the Nuggets ruled out the following players: guard Tamar Bates (left foot surgery), forward Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), forward Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), forward Cameron Johnson (right knee injury management) and center Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain).
The Nuggets also initially listed guard Jamal Murray (left ankle sprain) and guard Julian Strawther (illness) as probable to play, but the team later announced Murray and Strawther are available to face the Cavs.
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Denver Nuggets starters vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Nuggets announced they will start the following players against the Cavs: guard Jamal Murray, guard Jalen Pickett , forward Peyton Watson, forward Spencer Jones and center DaRon Holmes II.
How can I watch, stream Cavs game tonight vs. Nuggets? How can I listen to Cavaliers on radio?
The local TV broadcast of the Cavs-Nuggets game on Jan. 2 can be viewed via FanDuel Sports Network — Ohio. The game can be streamed on Prime Video. The radio broadcast can be heard locally via WTAM (1100-AM) or WMMS (100.7-FM).
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Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score, recap vs Denver Nuggets, highlights, analysis
