Donovan Mitchell’s last-second FTs lift Cavs over Nuggets
Donovan Mitchell hit two free throws with less than a second left and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-117 on Monday night.
Mitchell finished with 32 points and 10 assists, James Harden added 22 points and 10 rebounds in his second game with Cleveland, Jarrett Allen had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Jaylon Tyson finished with 16 points for the Cavaliers, who have won nine of their last 10.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, and Jamal Murray had 17 points and 11 assists. The Nuggets have lost four of their last five.
It was Jokic's 35th triple-double of the season and the 183rd of his career, second all-time to Russell Westbrook's 207.
Cleveland trailed by seven late in the fourth but rallied to get within 115-114 on Mitchell's lob to Allen. Jokic hit a short jumper in the lane but Harden drained a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to tie it.
Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 12 points, missed from deep and Murray fouled Mitchell with 0.9 seconds left. The Cavs star hit both free throws and Jokic missed a 3-pointer at the horn.
Julian Strawther matched his season high with 20 points, Christian Braun also scored 20 points, Jonas Valanciunas contributed 12 points and Cameron Johnson finished with 10 for Denver.
Jokic notched his triple-double when he fed Jalen Pickett for a 3-pointer, opening a 103-92 Nuggets lead with 10:01 left.
Harden, Tyson and Sam Merrill hit 3-pointers to make it 106-102 with 6:11 left. Denver missed two free throws and Harden had a steal and a lob to Allen for a dunk.
Braun hit a 3-pointer and Valanciunas made two free throws but Tyson drained one from deep and Allens split a pair from the line with 3:24 left.
Bruce Brown missed a floater and Mitchell's layup made it 111-110.
The Nuggets led 59-54 at halftime, Cleveland rallied to go ahead 77-76 but Denver took a 92-87 lead into the fourth quarter.