Cavaliers rally past short-handed Nuggets in fourth quarter

CLEVELAND — Everyone scoffed when Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson called the game "appropriate fear night." The Denver Nuggets were missing four starters, including perhaps the best player in the league in center Nikola Jokic, sidelined with a hyperextended knee. However, Atkinson proved to be prophetic when the shorthanded Nuggets almost pulled off the upset Friday before succumbing 113-108 at Rocket Arena. The Cavs (20-16) have won three in a row and five of their last seven heading into their Central Division showdown against Detroit on Sunday. Cleveland's suffocating defense in the fourth quarter was the difference, as it held the Nuggets to an opponent's season-low 11 points on 4-of-20 shooting. Atkinson credited swingman Jaylon Tyson, who was asked to slow down Denver guard Jamal Murray. Murray finished with a game-high 34 points, six rebounds and seven assists. "We blitzed Jamal Murray the whole second half," Atkinson said. "We figured we'd live with the other guys shooting. "We played with more force (in the fourth). We started picking up full court and blitzed every Jamal Murray pick-and-roll." Murray had 28 points in the first half as Cleveland held on to a 62-59 advantage. In the second half, he made just 2-of-12 from the field. In the pivotal fourth quarter, he was limited to a 3-point goal in the last minute. "We challenged (Tyson) at the half to guard Jamal," Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell said. Center Jarrett Allen agreed. "Jaylon stepped up," he said. "He brought it. Jamal was killing us in the first half." Mitchell finished with a team-high 33 points, six rebounds and five assists. Guard Darius Garland added 17 points and a game-high eight assists. Forward De'Andre Hunter scored 16 points and Craig Porter Jr. had 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Cleveland dominated the Nuggets 55-32 on the boards, as Allen had a game-high 12 rebounds and Evan Mobley 11 and three blocks. The Cavs shot .500 from the field and .410 from the 3-point line. Still, Atkinson called the offense "clunky." "We found a way to get the win," he said. "This one is not going into the Cavs' Hall of Fame." Atkinson credited Denver's zone defense for causing problems, though Cleveland prepared for it at its morning shootaround. "We haven't been good against the zone," he said. Mitchell said the Cavs need to do better against zone defenses. "Sometimes to get teams out of zone, you have to shoot them out of it," he said. Mitchell said he thinks Cleveland is starting to turn the corner. "We're playing well," he said. "There's been a different vibe. It's time to put our foot on the gas." The Cavs trailed 97-88 after three quarters but outscored Denver 24-11 in the final period. Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.