Cavs Cap Grueling Road Trip With Gritty Comeback Win Over Nuggets
DENVER - Kenny Atkinson didn’t sugarcoat it before tipoff: “Everything’s against us.”
And yet, when the final buzzer sounded in Ball Arena, it was the Cavaliers who stood tall - tired legs, thin rotation, altitude and all. Cleveland closed out a rugged five-city, 12-day road trip with a gutsy 119-117 win over the defending champion Nuggets, marking their fourth straight victory and ninth in their last 10.
It’s also win No. 2 of the James Harden era - and perhaps the most telling one yet.
Let’s set the scene: final game before the All-Star break, three-point underdogs, short-handed, and playing in one of the toughest road environments in the league. Denver came in mostly healthy and hungry, and it showed early. After Cleveland opened with a quick 6-0 burst, the Nuggets took control and held the lead for nearly 21 minutes of the first half.
But the Cavs never blinked.
Down double digits early in the fourth - Denver pushed the lead to 11 with 10:01 to play - Cleveland dug in. They chipped away, possession by possession, with the kind of poise and persistence that’s becoming a hallmark of this surging squad.
By the midway point of the fourth, the Cavs had pulled within four. Less than a minute later, it was a two-point game.
Then one. Then tied.
And then, with about 30 seconds left, Harden did what Harden does - a vintage step-back three that knotted the game at 117.
Denver had a clean look to retake the lead, but Tim Hardaway Jr.’s open triple clanged off the rim. With 0.9 seconds left, Donovan Mitchell drew a foul and calmly knocked down both free throws to seal the win.
Nikola Jokic had a chance to play hero at the horn, but his final attempt missed everything.
Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points, continuing to anchor Cleveland’s offense with unwavering confidence. Harden added 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists - a near triple-double in just his second game with the team. Jarrett Allen was a force inside once again, posting his fourth straight double-double with 22 points and 13 boards.
And they did it without three key rotation players: Evan Mobley (calf), Dean Wade (ankle), and Max Strus (foot).
Denver, missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, still got a monster night from Jokic - 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Christian Braun and Julian Strawther each added 20, helping to keep the Nuggets in control for most of the night.
But in a game with just four lead changes and seven ties, it was Cleveland who held the lead when it mattered most - for just 1 minute and 34 seconds total, but long enough to walk out with the win.
This wasn’t just a victory - it was a statement.
Five games. Thousands of miles.
Multiple time zones. A blockbuster trade.
A reshaped roster. And four wins to show for it.
The Cavs are rolling into the All-Star break with momentum, chemistry, and a renewed sense of belief.
Up next: Cleveland returns home to host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night - the final game before a well-earned break. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.