Mitchell Leads Cavaliers to Victory Over Short-Handed Nuggets.

CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, and Darius Garland added 18 points with eight assists, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 113-108 on January 2. The Cavaliers overcame a 105-101 deficit with 4:43 remaining, scoring 10 unanswered points to secure the victory. Garland's three-pointer at 2:13 gave Cleveland the lead for good. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 34 points, 28 of which came in the first half. Denver played without superstar center Nikola Jokić, who is sidelined for at least a month due to a hyperextended left knee sustained on December 29 against Miami. Murray also recorded six rebounds and seven assists, shooting 12-for-28 from the field. Despite strong performances from Peyton Watson (21 points) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (15 points), the Nuggets struggled in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 24-11. Hardaway Jr. missed eight of his nine attempts in the final period. In addition to Jokić’s absence, Denver was also without forward Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), forward Cam Johnson (right knee soreness), and guard Christian Braun (left ankle sprain). Backup center Jonas Valančiūnas is also expected to miss a month due to a calf injury. The Cavaliers capitalized on the Nuggets' injuries, dominating the rebounding battle 55-32. Evan Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, recorded eight points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, though he struggled at the free-throw line, missing all five attempts.

Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, who contributed eight points and 12 rebounds, were all in the starting lineup for just the seventh time this season, with the Cavaliers winning five of those games. The Cavaliers have played an NBA-high 21 home games and now stand at 13-8 at Rocket Arena. Lonzo Ball returned to action after missing three games, contributing six points in 15 minutes. Ball's return to the rotation came at the expense of Craig Porter Jr., who had 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the game.

Up next, the Nuggets will face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, while the Cavaliers will host the Detroit Pistons the same day.