Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers buckled down defensively late, holding the Denver Nuggets to just a single field goal in the final 4:43 en route to a third successive win.
Donovan Mitchell erupted for 33 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers held the undermanned Nuggets to just one field goal over the final 4:43, completing an 113-108 comeback and claiming a third-straight win on Saturday, January 3 (PH time).
Trailing 105–101 with under five minutes left, the Cavs locked in defensively and went on an 11–3 finishing spurt to topple a valiant Nuggets squad missing five rotation players.
Darius Garland added 18 while De’Andre Hunter contributed 16 as while big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 23 rebounds to anchor Cleveland’s interior dominance.
With the victory, the Cavaliers improved to 20–16 and will next host the East’s top-ranked Detroit Pistons (25–9).
For Denver, Jamal Murray led the way with 34 points, while Peyton Watson added 21, but it wasn’t enough.
The Nuggets were without four starters—three-time MVP Nikola Jokic (knee), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), and Cam Johnson (knee)—as well as backup big man Jonas Valanciunas, who sat out with a calf injury.
Up next for Denver is another road duel with the Nets (10-22) in Brooklyn Nets.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.