Denver was able to hang with the Cavaliers in the first half, and took a 53-52 lead into the break. The Nuggets went on a run in the third quarter to built on it in the fourth, holding on for the easy victory.
Turning Point:
The Nuggets went on an 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter, stretching a six point lead to 14 points. Cleveland seemed to give up at that point and concede the game to Denver, who cruised the rest of the way.
Key Stat:
Denver shot over 48% from the field in this game, exploiting Cleveland's lackadaisical defense. They moved the ball and got easy shots seemingly every possession, which helped them build a big lead.
Cleveland MVP:
Dion Waiters came off the bench to provide the Cavs with a much-needed spark, scoring 20 points. Kevin Love also had a great game, notching another double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Denver MVP:
The Nuggets needed someone to step up and lead their team, and point guard Ty Lawson did just that. He dropped in 24 points while dishing out 12 assists. Aaron Afflalo also played well, scoring 23 points.
What Did We Learn?
Denver doesn't have a great offense by any stretch of the imagination, but Cleveland made it look that way with how they played defense. The Cavs seemed to relax on that side of the floor, counting on their offense to bail them out again. They struggled on that end all night, and were beaten easily because of it. Every team is going to have down nights like this with how long the NBA season is, but the Cavs need to worry about defense more than offense for them to be as successful as they can be.
As for the Nuggets, they're going to have to play with this level of intensity every night to turn their season around. They're one of the worst teams talent-wise in the league, but they can beat teams simply by giving more effort than them.
What’s Next?
Cleveland hosts the defending champion Spurs on Wednesday while Denver returns home to face Oklahoma City on the same day.
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