NBA Roundup: Cavs dominate from three-ball to defeat Nuggets, Thunder crush Raptors in Toronto
Donovan Mitchell recorded 28 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lead the league, achieved a season-high 22 three-pointers in a 126-114 victory against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
Darius Garland contributed 24 points, while Caris LeVert added 21 points off the bench, enabling the Cavaliers to withstand a triple-double performance from NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic. This victory improved their home record to 13-1 and their overall record to 20-3.
Cleveland successfully made 22 three-pointers out of 48 attempts, whereas Denver struggled, hitting only three of their 24 attempts from long range.
The Nuggets managed to keep the game competitive in the first half, dominating in the paint with a scoring advantage of 76-40 over the Cavaliers.
Jokic finished with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists, aiding the Nuggets in overcoming an 18-point deficit in the second half and narrowing the gap to nine points with under four minutes remaining.
In response, LeVert and Mitchell hit crucial three-pointers, allowing the Cavaliers to secure the win.
"It took everybody," Mitchell remarked. "Jokic is MVP for a reason; he elevates that team significantly."
"They are a team that excels in transition... so we focused on maintaining discipline and staying engaged," Mitchell added. "It requires communication and sustained focus for the entire 48 minutes."
In Washington, Luka Doncic achieved a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 137-101 victory over the Wizards, further deepening their struggles.
Kyrie Irving topped the scoring charts with 25 points, as the Mavericks handed the Wizards their 16th consecutive defeat, equaling the franchise's longest losing streak.
This marks the second consecutive season in which the Wizards have endured a 16-game losing streak.
Conversely, the Mavericks have secured six consecutive victories and won 10 of their last 11 games.
Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dazzled in his hometown, scoring 30 points to propel the Western Conference-leading Thunder to a decisive 129-92 win over the Raptors in Toronto.
The Thunder achieved their sixth victory in the last seven games, improving their record to 17-5.
Oklahoma City's formidable defensive performance featured 14 steals and 11 blocked shots, converting 19 turnovers by Toronto into 28 points.
In New York, a dominant third quarter propelled the Knicks to a 125-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, extending their winning streak to four games.
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 27 points and secured 16 rebounds, while OG Anunoby contributed 15 of his 25 points during the third quarter, in which the Knicks outscored the Hornets 38-16, establishing a decisive lead.
Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 26 points, as they initially held a 13-point advantage in the first quarter and trailed by only three at halftime.
However, the absence of key players LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Tre Mann resulted in the Hornets enduring their seventh consecutive loss.
SportsLigue