With less than a second on the clock and the game hanging in the balance, Donovan Mitchell stepped to the line and calmly sank two free throws to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a thrilling 119-117 road win over the Denver Nuggets on February 9. It was a gutsy finish to a game that saw Cleveland claw back from a late seven-point deficit, and it capped off another standout night for Mitchell, who finished with 32 points and 10 assists.
This one had everything: stars showing out, big swings in momentum, and a dramatic finish that could easily be a playoff preview. And for the Cavs, it was another notch in what’s shaping up to be a red-hot stretch - they’ve now won nine of their last ten.
Mitchell wasn’t alone in carrying the load. James Harden, still settling into his new digs in Cleveland, looked increasingly comfortable in his second game with the team.
He dropped 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including a clutch three-pointer with 32 seconds left that tied the game at 117. Harden also came up with a key steal late, setting up a lob to Jarrett Allen that helped fuel the Cavs’ final push.
Speaking of Allen - he was a force inside all night. The big man poured in 22 points and pulled down 13 boards, playing with the kind of energy and presence that makes Cleveland’s frontcourt such a tough matchup. Rookie Jaylon Tyson chipped in 16 points, including a timely three in the fourth that helped keep the Cavs within striking distance.
On the other side, Denver got another monster performance from Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 35th triple-double of the season - 22 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists. That brings his career total to 183, still trailing only Russell Westbrook’s 207 on the all-time list.
Jokic was doing Jokic things all night: controlling the tempo, finding cutters, and hitting tough shots in the lane. But even his brilliance couldn’t stop the Cavs’ late surge.
Jamal Murray added 17 points and 11 assists for Denver, but the Nuggets have now dropped four of their last five - a concerning trend for a team with championship aspirations. They had a 103-92 lead with just over 10 minutes to go after Jokic found Jalen Pickett for a three, but the Cavs weren’t done.
Cleveland responded with a barrage from deep - Harden, Tyson, and Sam Merrill all connected from long range to cut the deficit to four. Denver missed a pair of free throws, and Harden’s steal and lob to Allen made it a two-point game. The Nuggets tried to hold off the charge with a Christian Braun three and a pair of Jonas Valanciunas free throws, but Tyson answered with another triple, and Allen added a free throw to keep the pressure on.
From there, it was a back-and-forth grind. Mitchell’s layup brought Cleveland within one.
After a Tim Hardaway Jr. miss from deep, Murray fouled Mitchell with 0.9 seconds left. The Cavs’ star calmly knocked down both free throws.
Jokic had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his three rimmed out.
Julian Strawther and Braun each scored 20 for Denver, with Strawther matching his season high. Valanciunas added 12, and Cameron Johnson chipped in 10. But the Nuggets couldn’t close this one out, despite leading by five entering the fourth and by seven with under four minutes to play.
Cleveland, meanwhile, continues to build serious momentum. With Mitchell leading the charge, Harden fitting in fast, and Allen anchoring the paint, this team is starting to look like a serious problem in the East. And if they can keep closing out games like this - on the road, against elite competition - they’re going to be a tough out for anyone come spring.