Game ID: 22301077
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Denver Nuggets
Sunday, March 31, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 30 35 36 29 130CLE 26 30 21 24 101
CLE @ DEN ScoutingCLE @ DEN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 3 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 9 min since (80% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 3/17, returns tonight: 22 min (207% of 11)
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (132% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 22 min since (207% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 13 min since (121% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 13 min since (122% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 9 min since (83% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 5 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 6 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 7 since 3/23, returns tonight: 21 min (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 21 min since (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 10 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 9 since 3/06, returns tonight: 21 min (67% of 32)
OUT Wade missed 7 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 14 min since (125% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Morris Sr. 15 to 21 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 11 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 8 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 21 min since (67% of 32)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 13 min since (119% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Morris Sr. 15 to 21 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 12 since 3/05, returns tonight: 24 min (75% of 33)
OUT Wade missed 9 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 23 min since (73% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 6 since 3/18, returns tonight: 32 min (90% of 36)
OUT Wade missed 10 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 24 min since (75% of 33)
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 26 min since (81% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 11 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 32 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 27 min since (85% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 12 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 32 min since (88% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 26 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 27 min since (86% of 32)
NEW Merrill 17 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/03 · back-to-backOUT Okoro missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 13 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 32 min since (88% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 28 min since (86% of 33)
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/06 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 3 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 14 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 3/29, returns tonight: 2 min (13% of 13)
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 34 min since (94% of 36)
BACK Strus back 3/27 after 12, 30 min since (92% of 33)
CLE availability going into 4/07 · back-to-backOUT Okoro missed 4 since 3/31, returns tonight: 25 min (95% of 26)
OUT Wade missed 15 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/29 after 6, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/06 after 4, 2 min since (13% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Porter Jr. at 17 a game. Without Murray (4 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 15 free throws a game; Allen at 16 and Eva. Mobley at 16 a game. Without Wade (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-3 and the line, where Denver takes 22 free throws a game to Cleveland's 15. Call it Denver 112, Cleveland 107.
3/23 @ POR 114-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 114-111. DEN shot 45% (41 of 91) to POR's 46%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 33 times to POR's 17 — 24 points from the stripe to their 15. Jackson led with 23 (7 of 12, 1 of 4 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Gordon added 22, Braun 17. The hinge was Q2, 31-25: a lead of 4 became 10, and the lead reached 15. Gillespie was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/25 vs MEM 128-103 — DEN notes
DEN won 128-103. DEN shot 53% (48 of 90) to MEM's 39%, 15 of 32 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MEM's 27. The glass went 50-40 for them. Jokić led with 29 (11 of 18, 6 of 7 at the line); Braun added 17, Jackson 15. The hinge was Q1, 39-24: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/27 vs PHX 97-104 — DEN notes
DEN lost 97-104. DEN shot 43% (38 of 88) to PHX's 47%, 10 of 40 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to PHX's 16. The glass went 38-51 against them. Jokić led with 22 (9 of 16, 1 of 5 from three); A. Gordon added 18, Porter Jr. 18. Q4 was theirs, 24-21, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 83-73 against them. Braun's -19 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs MIN 98-111 — DEN notes
DEN lost 98-111. DEN took 14 more shots (88 to 74), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MIN's 51%, 8 of 28 from three, and got to the line 27 times to MIN's 37. DEN turned it over 12 times to MIN's 7. Jokić led with 32 (11 of 24, 0 of 3 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Porter Jr. added 14, Gordon 14. Q4 was theirs, 34-24, the deficit cut from 23 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 87-64 against them. Caldwell-Pope's -15 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs CLE 130-101 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-101. DEN shot 57% (50 of 87) to CLE's 46%, 21 of 33 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 21. The glass went 51-28 for them. Jokić led with 26 (11 of 18); Caldwell-Pope added 22, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 29. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
4/02 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Jackson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Murray (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Vassell at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 117 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio minus-1. Call it Denver 117, San Antonio 110.
4/04 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 24 a game. Without Tucker (3 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to the Clippers' 113. Call it Denver 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/06 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Gordon at 16 a game. Without Murray (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Bogdanović at 22 a game. Without Young (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 113 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 115, Atlanta 110.
4/09 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and George at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Porter Jr. at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-8 and the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to Utah's 121. Call it Denver 117, Utah 111.
3/24 @ MIA 84-121 — CLE notes
CLE lost 84-121. CLE shot 42% (30 of 72) to MIA's 52%, 9 of 29 from three. CLE turned it over 17 times to MIA's 9, and MIA turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 30-44 against them. Mobley led with 15 (4 of 6, 5 of 6 at the line). Q4 was theirs, 27-31, but the other 3 periods went 90-57 against them. LeVert's -26 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs CHA 115-92 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-92. CLE shot 53% (46 of 86) to CHA's 42%, 17 of 41 from three, and got to the line 10 times to CHA's 18. The glass went 47-33 for them. Allen led with 17 (7 of 9); Mobley added 17, Niang 17. The hinge was Q2, 31-17: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/27 @ CHA 111-118 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-118. CLE took 9 more shots (85 to 76), but shot 49% to CHA's 58%, 19 of 44 from three, and got to the line 14 times to CHA's 22. Allen led with 24 (11 of 14); Strus added 19, Merrill 17. Q1 was theirs, 43-33, but the other 3 periods went 85-68 against them. They led by as many as 14. Okoro's -13 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs PHI 117-114 — CLE notes
CLE won 117-114. CLE shot 55% (45 of 82) to PHI's 45%, 16 of 37 from three. Niang led with 25 (10 of 14, 5 of 8 from three); Mobley added 20, Strus 15. The hinge was Q4, 32-27: CLE came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 3. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
3/31 @ DEN 101-130 — CLE notes
CLE lost 101-130. CLE shot 46% (38 of 82) to DEN's 57%, 8 of 25 from three, and went to the line 21 times to DEN's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 28-51 against them. Mobley led with 23 (9 of 10); Allen added 19, LeVert 15. Q1 was theirs, 26-30, but the other 3 periods went 100-75 against them. Mitchell's -27 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Collins at 24 and Sexton at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Clarkson (3 straight), Lofton Jr. (11 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Eva. Mobley at 17 and Allen at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 16 and the arc, Cleveland at 39 percent from three to Utah's 33. Call it Utah 114, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/03 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 15 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; Allen at 19 and Eva. Mobley at 18 a game. Without Okoro (2 straight), Wade (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-2. Call it Phoenix 115, Cleveland 111, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/06 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vanderbilt (27 straight), Wood (21 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 19 and Eva. Mobley at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Okoro (3 straight), Wade (14 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and Cleveland minus-6 and the line, where the Lakers take 23 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18. Call it the Lakers 118, Cleveland 112.
4/07 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 23 and Zubac at 15 a game. Without Leonard (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Eva. Mobley at 18 and LeVert at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Okoro (4 straight), Wade (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Cleveland's 119 and the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18. Call it the Clippers 116, Cleveland 108.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DJ D. Jones
DM D. Mitchell
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
JA J. Allen
MM M. Morris Sr.
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
CG C. Gillespie
DJ D. Jordan
HT H. Tyson
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
CLE/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jokic has 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists to lead Nuggets over Cavs, 130-101
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists for his 22nd triple-double of the season, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-101 on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth.
Jokic got his 128th career triple-double despite dealing with a sore right wrist that nearly kept him out of Friday’s loss to Minnesota.
Denver guard Jamal Murray missed his fifth straight game due to knee and ankle injuries but has progressed, coach Michael Malone said before the game. He has missed 21 games with various injuries.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added a season-high 22 points, going 6 of 9 shooting from 3-point range, as Denver snapped a two-game home losing streak. Reggie Jackson had 19 points starting in place of the injured Murray and Michael Porter Jr . also scored 19 points for the Nuggets (52-23), who entered play a half-game behind Minnesota and Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference.
They have reached the postseason in six straight seasons.
Evan Mobley scored 23 points and Jarrett Allen had 19 for Cleveland, which has dropped eight of 12. The Cavaliers (45-30) began the day a half-game ahead of New York for fourth in the East.
Donovan Mitchell , playing in his second game since missing six with a broken nose, made his first two shots of the game but went 1 of 10 the rest of the way to finish with 13 points for Cleveland.
“He wants to play and he wants to be out there with his teammates,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He wants to compete, to try and help us be in the best position moving forward, but if you take time off it's going to take some time to find your rhythm again.”
Cleveland forward Dean Wade (knee) didn’t make the five-game road trip that started Sunday.
“When you go through a stretch where four of your top eight players are out, it’s hard to be at your best,” Bickerstaff said.
Jokic notched the triple-double with a lob pass to Aaron Gordon to give the Nuggets an 85-66 lead with 5:04 left in the third and later hit Jackson with a behind-the-back pass for a layup.
“He’s one of the most gifted scorers in this league and he doesn’t want to score,” Jackson said of Jokic. “He wants to pass the ball and play the right way, which makes him extremely hard to guard.”
He nearly had a triple-double in the first half with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but it was Christian Braun who sparked a run to give Denver a halftime lead.
Braun stole an inbounds pass and hit a layup, drained a corner 3-pointer off a tip-assist from Jokic and made a driving layup that put the Nuggets ahead 58-50.
“If you play the right way, you always got a chance to get a shot,” Jackson said. “He’s a supernova; he’s the brightest star. Honestly, he’s the sun. Everything revolves around him.”
Denver outscored the Cavaliers 36-21 in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Play at the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
Nuggets: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.