Garland, Tower City lift Cavaliers over the Nuggets in extra period

Cleveland Cavaliers complete late comeback over Denver

The Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a double-digit deficit to secure a 119-116 victory over the Denver Nuggets in overtime. Despite being behind for the better part of the ball game, the Cavs raced back late to steal an important win at home.

Three Cavaliers players finished with double-doubles, with All-Star guard Darius Garland continuing to run the engine of the team with 25 points to go with 14 assists, shaking off his recent shooting woes to finish with a much more efficient 9-for-20 clip from the field.

The other two, two-thirds of Cleveland’s infamous Tower City frontcourt, balled out to produced huge outputs while effectively slamming the door on the Nuggets with some of the most important plays in the extra period.

Lauri Markkanen drained the go-ahead triple with a little under 29 seconds left in overtime en route to a season-high 31 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, while frontcourt partner and NBA Rookie of the Year Evan Mobley tallied 27 markers, 11 boards, and two blocked shots in the comeback win.

Cavs look to cling on to the sixth spot in the standings

Not only did Markkanen and Mobley show out on offense, but they also made it extremely difficult for the immensely versatile MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets on the defensive end in the absence of the Cavaliers’ top rim protector in Jarrett Allen. 

Jokic still dropped 32 points, 10 boards, and eight assists on Cleveland, but the duo helped keep him in check in the clutch as the anxious Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse crown held their breaths with Denver leading by two possessions with two minutes left, before erupting to a joyous frenzy following the final Cavs rally.

Following the vital win, the team improves to 40-30 to remain in sixth place, back to a full game ahead of the Toronto Raptors whom they still hold a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over.

There would be no rest for the weary, however, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will have less than 24 hours to recuperate ahead of hosting the suddenly reinvigorated Detroit Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back at home.