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Wrap-Up -- This was not how the Cavaliers’ starting lineup reunion was supposed to go.
With the Wine and Gold going with their opening night starting lineup for the first time since mid-December – and Kyle Korver returning from a seven-game layoff – Wednesday night’s contest was supposed to be a the first tune-up for a postseason tournament looming less than a month away.
Instead, the Nuggets ran roughshod over the Cavaliers for most of the night – snuffing a third-quarter comeback and pulling away to hand Cleveland the 128-113 loss on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center.
In the third game of their most recent four-game junket, the Nuggets had their way on the offensive end on Wednesday.
Denver shot 53 percent from the floor, canned 11 triples, didn’t miss a single free throw, handed out 35 assists, had five players hit eight field goals apiece and had three bench players notch at least 15 points.
Where Denver’s offensive dominance hurt the worst was their work from point-blank range – outscoring the Wine and Gold, 70-30, in the paint.
For the Cavs, Kyrie Irving extended his streak of 20-point games to a league-leading 19 straight – leading both squads with 33 points, netting 14 of those in the third quarter. On the night, the four-time All-Star went 11-for-22 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from long-range, and 7-of-7 from the stripe.
LeBron James finished with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting, but Denver’s Wilson Chandler – returning from a four-game absence – kept the King from going off as Cleveland tried mounting a second-half comeback. LeBron – whose career record against the Nuggets fell to 12-14 – added six boards and a team-best five assists.
Deron Williams had his best offensive output as a Cavalier – finishing with 19 points off the bench, going 8-for-10 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets featured seven players in double-figures led by Gary Harris, who tallied 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Denver’s prized big man, Nikola Jokic, doubled-up for the second time this season against Cleveland, chipping in with 16 points and 10 boards. The only starter who didn’t net double-figures for Denver was Jameer Nelson, who led both squad with nine dimes.
Kyrie and LBJ combine for 51 and DWill scores 19 off the bench.
Offensively, the Cavaliers were solid. They shot 51 percent from the floor, drilled 15 threes and were 12-of-14 from the stripe. But the other end of the floor is where they’ll need tightening up over the final dozen regular season contests.
Turning Point -- After getting off to a rough start – trailing the Nuggets by two touchdowns at intermission – the Cavaliers looked like they’d have enough to put together another second half rally, trimming Denver’s 20-point lead to just five midway through the third period on a 15-4 run.
But that was as good as it would get for the Wine and Gold on Wednesday.
Denver answered Cleveland’s run with one of their own – with Kenneth Faried dissecting the Cavaliers interior defense, keying a 13-2 run that gave the Nuggets a double-digit lead they would not relinquish.
By the Numbers – 39.5 | .605 | .667 | 1.000 … Kyrie Irving’s scoring average, shooting percentage (26-43), three-point percentage (10-15) and free throw percentage (17-17) over his past two games.
Quotable – Coach Tyronn Lue, on Wednesday’s loss in Denver …
”You have to be tougher; you have to have more urgency and
that comes from all of us. They got three point shots, they got points in the paint, they got offensive rebounds, they got whatever they wanted and we have to be better than that and that starts with the players and the coaches and we have to look ourselves in the mirror. We have to be more physical; we have to bring a physical presence and they have to take pride in guarding their man.”
Up Next -- After dropping two of the first three games on their four-game roadie, the Cavaliers will try to split the trip on Friday night in Charlotte, taking on Kemba Walker and the Hornets. Cleveland returns for a quick stopover at The Q – facing off against John Wall, Bradley Beal and the Wizards on Saturday before getting right back on the road next week – traveling to San Antonio on Monday followed by a matchup with the Bulls in Chicago on Thursday. The Wine and Gold wrap up the month of March the following night when they welcome the Sixers to town.