Jokic has 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists to lead Nuggets over Cavs, 130-101
DENVER (AP) Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists for his 22nd triple-double of the season, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-101 on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth.
Jokic got his 128th career triple-double despite dealing with a sore right wrist that nearly kept him out of Friday’s loss to Minnesota.
Denver guard Jamal Murray missed his fifth straight game due to knee and ankle injuries but has progressed, coach Michael Malone said before the game. He has missed 21 games with various injuries.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added a season-high 22 points, going 6 of 9 shooting from 3-point range, as Denver snapped a two-game home losing streak. Reggie Jackson had 19 points starting in place of the injured Murray and Michael Porter Jr. also scored 19 points for the Nuggets (52-23), who entered play a half-game behind Minnesota and Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference.
They have reached the postseason in six straight seasons.
Evan Mobley scored 23 points and Jarrett Allen had 19 for Cleveland, which has dropped eight of 12. The Cavaliers (45-30) began the day a half-game ahead of New York for fourth in the East.
Donovan Mitchell, playing in his second game since missing six with a broken nose, made his first two shots of the game but went 1 of 10 the rest of the way to finish with 13 points for Cleveland.
“He wants to play and he wants to be out there with his teammates,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He wants to compete, to try and help us be in the best position moving forward, but if you take time off it's going to take some time to find your rhythm again.”
Cleveland forward Dean Wade (knee) didn’t make the five-game road trip that started Sunday.
“When you go through a stretch where four of your top eight players are out, it’s hard to be at your best,” Bickerstaff said.
Jokic notched the triple-double with a lob pass to Aaron Gordon to give the Nuggets an 85-66 lead with 5:04 left in the third and later hit Jackson with a behind-the-back pass for a layup.
“He’s one of the most gifted scorers in this league and he doesn’t want to score,” Jackson said of Jokic. “He wants to pass the ball and play the right way, which makes him extremely hard to guard.”
He nearly had a triple-double in the first half with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but it was Christian Braun who sparked a run to give Denver a halftime lead.
Braun stole an inbounds pass and hit a layup, drained a corner 3-pointer off a tip-assist from Jokic and made a driving layup that put the Nuggets ahead 58-50.
“If you play the right way, you always got a chance to get a shot,” Jackson said. “He’s a supernova; he’s the brightest star. Honestly, he’s the sun. Everything revolves around him.”
Denver outscored the Cavaliers 36-21 in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Play at the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
Nuggets: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jarrett Allen vs. Nikola Jokic (Donovan Mitchell gains possession) | ||
| 11:53 |  | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving finger roll layup | 2-0 |
| 11:36 | | Evan Mobley shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | ||
| 11:36 | | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:36 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 11:36 | | +1 | Aaron Gordon makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-1 |
| 11:23 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point driving layup (Darius Garland assists) | 4-1 |
| 11:00 | | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 4-3 |
| 10:38 | | Max Strus misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 10:36 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:30 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:28 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point pullup jump shot | 7-3 |
| 10:08 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:58 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point hook shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 9-3 |
| 9:47 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point pullup jump shot | 9-6 |
| 9:33 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope turnover (bad pass) (Darius Garland steals) | ||
| 9:11 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | ||
| 9:06 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +2 | Max Strus makes two point cutting layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 11-6 |
| 8:54 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:42 | | Donovan Mitchell personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 8:29 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point stepback jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 11-8 |
| 8:08 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-8 |
| 7:52 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 13-10 |
| 7:44 | | Darius Garland misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:42 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:33 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 13-12 |
| 7:04 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:01 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 6:55 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:51 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 6:46 | | Reggie Jackson personal foul (Evan Mobley draws the foul) | ||
| 6:37 | | +3 | Evan Mobley makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 16-12 |
| 6:24 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point pullup jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 16-15 |
| 6:09 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:00 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 16-18 |
| 5:58 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:41 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:38 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:29 | | Jarrett Allen blocks Nikola Jokic's two point driving layup | ||
| 5:27 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point running jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 19-18 |
| 5:09 | | Max Strus personal foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | ||
| 4:55 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point layup | ||
| 4:54 | | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | ||
| 4:54 | | Nuggets turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 4:40 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | ||
| 4:37 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 4:31 | | Christian Braun misses two point running layup | ||
| 4:31 | | Christian Braun offensive rebound | ||
| 4:28 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:25 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 4:13 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point alley-oop dunk (Georges Niang assists) | 21-18 |
| 3:50 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 3:46 | | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | ||
| 3:46 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point tip layup | 21-20 |
| 3:36 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:34 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround hook shot | 21-22 |
| 2:57 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 2:56 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 2:47 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 2:47 | | Nikola Jokic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:47 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 2:47 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-23 |
| 2:31 | | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 23-23 |
| 2:16 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 2:16 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-24 |
| 2:16 | | Nikola Jokic misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:14 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 2:02 | | Darius Garland turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:42 | | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 23-27 |
| 1:34 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:34 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:32 | | Jump ball. Evan Mobley vs. Nikola Jokic (Caris LeVert gains possession) | ||
| 1:21 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:18 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 1:06 | | Justin Holiday misses two point layup | ||
| 1:03 | | Justin Holiday offensive rebound | ||
| 1:03 | | +2 | Justin Holiday makes two point tip layup | 23-29 |
| 0:44 | | Christian Braun shooting foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | ||
| 0:44 | | +1 | Darius Garland makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-29 |
| 0:44 | | Darius Garland misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:43 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 0:31 | | Christian Braun turnover (lost ball) (Caris LeVert steals) | ||
| 0:25 | | Peyton Watson blocks Georges Niang's two point running alley-oop layup | ||
| 0:23 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 0:22 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point hook shot | 26-29 |
| 0:03 | | Sam Merrill shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 0:03 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-30 |
| 0:03 | | Peyton Watson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:01 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Georges Niang turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:00 | | Nikola Jokic misses three point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | ||
| 11:44 | | DeAndre Jordan turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:21 | | Georges Niang misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 11:17 | | Georges Niang offensive rebound | ||
| 11:17 | | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point tip layup | 28-30 |
| 10:55 | | Reggie Jackson misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:52 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound | ||
| 10:47 | | Sam Merrill misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 10:24 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point running finger roll layup | 30-30 |
| 10:05 | | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-33 |
| 9:50 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point turnaround hook shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 32-33 |
| 9:35 | | Peyton Watson turnover (bad pass) (Georges Niang steals) | ||
| 9:31 | | Darius Garland misses two point running layup | ||
| 9:31 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 9:31 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point tip dunk | 34-33 |
| 9:31 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:19 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 34-35 |
| 9:02 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:00 | | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:49 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:46 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 8:33 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-35 |
| 8:33 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-35 |
| 8:17 | | Peyton Watson turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | ||
| 8:14 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point running layup | 38-35 |
| 8:14 | | Reggie Jackson shooting foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 8:14 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-35 |
| 8:00 | | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:58 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 7:52 | | Peyton Watson blocks Donovan Mitchell's two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 7:50 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | ||
| 7:42 | | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (DeAndre Jordan assists) | 39-38 |
| 7:14 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:12 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | +3 | Marcus Morris Sr. makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 42-38 |
| 6:40 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (DeAndre Jordan assists) | 42-41 |
| 6:29 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point pullup jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 45-41 |
| 6:09 | | Evan Mobley blocks Michael Porter Jr.'s two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 6:09 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 6:06 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:49 | | Marcus Morris Sr. turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 5:34 | | Christian Braun turnover (bad pass) (Max Strus steals) | ||
| 5:22 | | Marcus Morris Sr. misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:16 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:09 | | Marcus Morris Sr. shooting foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | ||
| 5:09 | | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-42 |
| 5:09 | | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 45-43 |
| 4:55 | | Jarrett Allen personal foul (Double) (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 4:55 | | Nikola Jokic personal foul (Double) (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 4:49 | | Darius Garland turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 4:33 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving layup | 45-45 |
| 4:33 | | Jarrett Allen shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 4:33 | | Cavaliers delay of game violation | ||
| 4:33 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 45-46 |
| 4:30 | | Marcus Morris Sr. turnover (bad pass) (Christian Braun steals) | ||
| 4:25 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point layup | 45-48 |
| 4:14 | | Marcus Morris Sr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:10 | | Max Strus offensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point bank jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 47-48 |
| 3:45 | | +2 | Justin Holiday makes two point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 47-50 |
| 3:29 | | +2 | Max Strus makes two point jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 49-50 |
| 3:13 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 49-53 |
| 3:01 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 3:01 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-53 |
| 3:01 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:59 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 2:46 | | +3 | Christian Braun makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 50-56 |
| 2:29 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (bad pass) (Nikola Jokic steals) | ||
| 2:25 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running finger roll layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 50-58 |
| 2:25 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:06 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point floating jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 52-58 |
| 1:52 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point fadeaway jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 52-61 |
| 1:39 | | Darius Garland misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:35 | |