Game ID: 22500767
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Denver Nuggets
Monday, February 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 30 29 33 25 117CLE 26 28 33 32 119
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 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 11 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 20 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 3 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 24 min since (70% of 35)
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 19 min since (130% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 25 min since (190% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 12 since 1/11, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Johnson missed 21 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 4 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 27 min since (77% of 35)
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 20 min since (134% of 15)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 23 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 22 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 5 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 29 min since (82% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 26 min since (81% of 32)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 22 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restOUT Johnson missed 23 since 12/25, returns tonight: 27 min (89% of 31)
OUT Gordon missed 6 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 33 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 35 min since (109% of 32)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 19 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 7 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 33 min since (94% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 34 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 27 min since (89% of 31)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 8 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 33 min since (105% of 32)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 28 min since (92% of 31)
NEW Strawther 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Watson missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 9 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 16 min (74% of 22)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 2/09, out tonight
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 34 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 28 min since (93% of 31)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/20 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 4 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 10 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 2/09, returns tonight: 8 min (70% of 12)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 30 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 16 min since (74% of 22)
NEW Brown 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 5 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 11 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 29 min since (96% of 31)
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 23 min since (104% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (70% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restBACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 24 min since (96% of 25)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 17 min since (81% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/21 after 2, 11 min since (90% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 13 min since (119% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 21 min since (86% of 25)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 19 min since (90% of 21)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 17 min since (153% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/04 · 2 days' restOUT Mobley missed 3 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 24 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 18 min since (88% of 21)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 16 min since (145% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restOUT Mobley missed 4 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 23 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Tomlin 14 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 18 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 5 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 23 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Tomlin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 6 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 5 min (50% of 10)
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Mobley missed 7 since 1/28, returns tonight: 19 min (57% of 33)
OUT Wade missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 16 min (73% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/11 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 5 min since (50% of 10)
CLE availability going into 2/20 · back-to-backBACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 19 min since (57% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 16 min since (73% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/11 after 2, 9 min since (70% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
CLE availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restBACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 19 min since (57% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/11 after 2, 9 min since (70% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
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 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 25 a game. Without Gordon (7 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Allen at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mobley (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 32 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Denver's 122. Call it Denver 120, Cleveland 119, Cleveland keeping it close.
2/01 vs OKC 111-121 — DEN notes
DEN lost 111-121. DEN shot 49% (39 of 79) to OKC's 47%, 16 of 35 from three. Watson led with 29 (11 of 17, 5 of 7 from three); Jokić added 16, Valančiūnas 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-20, the deficit cut from 16 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 101-85 against them. Jones's -22 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/03 @ DET 121-124 — DEN notes
DEN lost 121-124. DEN shot 45% (37 of 83) to DET's 46%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 43 times to DET's 30 — 37 points from the stripe to their 26. Murray led with 32 (8 of 17, 4 of 8 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Jokić added 24, Watson 17. Q4 was theirs, 41-31, the deficit cut from 13 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 93-80 against them. Jokić's -9 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 @ NYK 127-134 — DEN notes
DEN lost 127-134 in 2 overtimes. DEN shot 44% (46 of 105) to NYK's 50%, 13 of 50 from three, and went to the line 27 times to NYK's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 16. Murray led with 39 (15 of 33, 3 of 14 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Jokić added 30, Hardaway Jr. 19. Q4 was theirs, 26-20, the deficit cut from 6 to 0, but the other 5 periods went 114-101 against them. Brown's -12 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/07 @ CHI 136-120 — DEN notes
DEN won 136-120. DEN shot 58% (49 of 85) to CHI's 45%, 16 of 33 from three, and went to the line 33 times to CHI's 20 — 22 points from the stripe to their 18. Murray led with 28 (11 of 18, 4 of 9 from three); Hardaway Jr. added 23, Jokić 22. The hinge was Q4, 39-16: DEN came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 16. DEN trailed 59-65 at the half and won the second half 77-55. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
2/09 vs CLE 117-119 — DEN notes
DEN lost 117-119. DEN shot 45% (38 of 85) to CLE's 47%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 35 times to CLE's 22 — 28 points from the stripe to their 18. Jokić led with 22 (6 of 11, 10 of 12 at the line); Braun added 20, Strawther 20. Q1 was theirs, 30-26, but the other 3 periods went 93-87 against them. They led by as many as 11.
2/11 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 23 a game. Without Watson (2 straight), Gordon (8 straight), Jones (2 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jerome at 20 and Wells at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Aldama (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-4 and the line, where Denver takes 32 free throws a game to Memphis's 26. Call it Denver 122, Memphis 118, Memphis keeping it close.
2/19 @ 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 104 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Collins at 17 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Bogdanović (4 straight), Batum (2 straight). 7 days' rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 34 free throws a game; Murray at 28 and Jokić at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Watson (3 straight), Gordon (9 straight), Jones (3 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Denver's 123. Call it the Clippers 115, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
2/20 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Holiday at 22 and Grant at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Sharpe (4 straight), Murray (19 straight), Thybulle (51 straight). 7 days' rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Watson (4 straight), Gordon (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 32 free throws a game to Portland's 22 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 19 times a game to Denver's 14. Call it Portland 122, Denver 118, Denver keeping it close.
2/22 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Santos at 15 and Moody at 15 a game. Without Ste. Curry (6 straight), Cryer (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 115, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 33 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Watson (5 straight), Gordon (11 straight), Pickett (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 33 free throws a game to Golden State's 15 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-10 a night and Golden State minus-2. Call it Denver 118, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
1/30 @ PHX 113-126 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-126. CLE took 12 more shots (97 to 85), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to PHX's 53%, 15 of 48 from three, and got to the line 11 times to PHX's 18. Hunter led with 17 (7 of 15, 2 of 7 from three); Mitchell added 16, Tyson 16. Q4 was theirs, 34-29, the deficit cut from 18 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 97-79 against them. Tyson's -30 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/01 @ POR 130-111 — CLE notes
CLE won 130-111. CLE shot 55% (50 of 91) to POR's 45%, 16 of 34 from three, and went to the line 19 times to POR's 12 — 14 points from the stripe to their 9. CLE turned it over 13 times to POR's 22. Allen led with 40 (16 of 23, 8 of 12 at the line); Merrill added 22, Tyson 18. The hinge was Q3, 41-30: a lead of 9 became 20, and the lead reached 24. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
2/04 @ LAC 124-91 — CLE notes
CLE won 124-91. CLE shot 51% (50 of 98) to LAC's 46%, 16 of 41 from three. CLE turned it over 9 times to LAC's 24. Mitchell led with 29 (10 of 19, 3 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tyson added 17, Merrill 11. The hinge was Q1, 36-18: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
2/07 @ SAC 132-126 — CLE notes
CLE won 132-126. CLE shot 52% (46 of 88) to SAC's 51%, 11 of 35 from three, and went to the line 32 times to SAC's 20 — 29 points from the stripe to their 14. Mitchell led with 35 (13 of 24, 2 of 8 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Allen added 29, Harden 23. The hinge was Q4, 39-30: CLE came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 6. Bryant was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
2/09 @ DEN 119-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 119-117. CLE shot 47% (43 of 92) to DEN's 45%, 15 of 45 from three, and got to the line 22 times to DEN's 35. Mitchell led with 32 (11 of 23, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Harden added 22, Allen 22. The hinge was Q4, 32-25: CLE came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. CLE trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 65-58. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/11 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Allen at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Mobley (6 straight), Wade (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Riley at 18 and Vukcevic at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Johnson (6 straight), Whitmore (31 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Washington's 124 and the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-9. Call it Cleveland 124, Washington 112, Cleveland by 12.
2/19 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Allen at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Mobley (7 straight), Wade (3 straight). 7 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 18 and Claxton at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight), Johnson (17 straight), Minott (3 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-6 a night and Cleveland minus-0 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 121, Brooklyn 111, Cleveland by 10.
2/20 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Knueppel at 20 and Miller at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Bridges (2 straight), Diabaté (2 straight), White (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Allen at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 115, Charlotte 113, Charlotte keeping it close.
2/22 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Joe at 18 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (6 straight), Jal. Williams (2 straight), Mitchell (12 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Allen at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 116, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENBB B. Brown
CB C. Braun
CJ C. Johnson
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Schröder
JA J. Allen
JH J. Harden
JT J. Tyson
KE K. Ellis
NT N. Tomlin
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
TB T. Bryant
DEN/CLE 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
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden rally Cavaliers to 119-117 win over Nuggets
DENVER -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, including two free throws with 0.9 seconds left after James Harden 's tying 3-pointer, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-117 on Monday night.
Harden finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in his second game with Cleveland. Harden, acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 4, scored 23 points in his Cavaliers' debut three nights later.
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, but missed a potential winning 3-point shot at the buzzer. Two nights after Jokic passed Oscar Robertson for second place in career triple-doubles, he notched his 183rd.
Monday night was the 14th time Harden has played against Denver since the start of the 2024-25 season, including a seven-game slugfest in the first round of the playoffs last year.
“Even if you’re prepared for (Harden), his ability to go get 28 and 12, it’s historical,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said before the game.
Harden keyed a Cleveland rally that cut Denver’s 11-point lead to 106-104 but Christian Braun , playing his fourth game back from a left ankle injury, drained a 3-pointer and Jonas Valanciunas hit two free throws to make it 111-104.
Mitchell's lob to Jarrett Allen , who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, for an alley-oop dunk made it a one-point game, and after Jokic's hook shot, Harden hit a step-back 3-pointer to tie it 117-all with 32 seconds left. Tim Hardaway missed at the other end and Jamal Murray fouled Mitchell, who calmly drained the winning free throws.
Mitchell added 10 assists for the Cavaliers, who have won eight of their last nine.
Murray finished with 17 points and 11 assists for Denver, which has dropped four of its last five games.
Up next Cavs: Hosts the Wizards on Wednesday night.