Donovan Mitchell scored 28 factors and the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers made a document 22 three-pointers in a 126-114 NBA victory over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
Darius Garland added 24 factors and Caris LeVert contributed 21 off the bench because the Cavs held off a triple-double from NBA MVP Jokic to enhance to 13-1 at dwelling and at 20-3 total.
Cleveland made 22 three-pointers on 48 makes an attempt whereas Denver made simply three of its 24 makes an attempt from past the arc.
The Nuggets got here shut within the first half with a powerful efficiency within the paint, the place they outscored the Cavs 76-40.
Jokic scored 27 factors with 20 rebounds and 11 assists for the 139th triple-double of his profession, passing the legendary Earvin “Magic” Johnson (138) for third all-time.
Russell Westbrook tops the checklist with 200 profession triple-doubles – reaching double figures in three key statistical classes – and Oscar Robertson is second with 181.
The exploits of Serbian star Jokic, who gained a 3rd MVP award final season, helped the Nuggets overcome an 18-point second-half deficit and reduce the result in 9 with lower than 4 minutes to play.
However LeVert and Donovan responded with three-pointers and the Cavs headed dwelling.
“It took everybody,” Mitchell stated. “Jokic is MVP for a cause, he makes this staff phenomenal.”
Jokic known as his stand up the triple-double checklist a “good factor” however stated it was extra one thing to return again to “after he is carried out along with his profession.”
After watching his staff fall to 11-9, Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated he was extra involved about placing the 2023 NBA champions on a agency upward trajectory.
“I really like Nikola, I actually do, and I get to teach him and he’s the most effective to ever do it,” Malone stated. “However I’m a lot extra involved about my staff proper now.”
In Washington, Luka Doncic additionally climbed onto the all-time triple-doubles checklist, scoring 21 factors with 10 rebounds and 10 assists because the Dallas Mavericks put much more distress on the Wizards with a win of 137-101.
Along with his 78th profession triple-double, the 25-year-old Slovenian star tied Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden for seventh place.
Dallas guard Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 25 factors and the Mavs handed the Wizards a sixteenth straight loss, matching the staff’s longest shedding streak.
The Mavs, alternatively, have gained six in a row and 10 of their final 11.
– Rolling thunder –
Oklahoma Metropolis guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander placed on a present in his hometown, scoring 30 factors to guide the Western Convention-leading Thunder to a dominating 129-92 victory over the Raptors in Toronto.
The Thunder notched a sixth victory of their final seven video games to enhance their document to 17-5.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s stifling defensive effort included 14 steals and 11 blocked pictures and so they turned 19 Toronto turnovers into 28 factors.
In San Francisco, Jonathan Kuminga scored a career-high 33 factors to guide the Golden State Warriors to a 99-93 victory over the Houston Rockets in a preview of their NBA Cup quarterfinal subsequent week.
Andrew Wiggins added 23 factors and 9 rebounds for Golden State, which ended a five-game shedding streak regardless of lacking stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced.
In New York, an enormous third quarter noticed the Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets 125-101 to increase their successful streak to 4 video games.
Karl-Anthony Cities scored 27 factors and grabbed 16 rebounds and OG Anunoby scored 15 of his 25 factors within the third, when the Knicks topped the Hornets 38-16 to take management for good.
Brandon Miller scored 26 factors to guide the Hornets, who led by 13 within the first quarter and trailed by simply three at halftime however suffered a seventh straight loss.
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