Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavs beat Denver Nuggets
NBA Roundup
CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points and Darius Garland had 18 points and eight assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 113-108 on Friday night.
De’Andre Hunter added 16 points and Jarrett Allen had eight points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who trailed 105-101 with 4:43 remaining before scoring 10 consecutive points. Garland’s 3-pointer put them ahead for good with 2:13 left.
Jamal Murray scored 28 of his 34 points in the first half for the Nuggets, who played their second game without superstar center Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP hyperextended his left knee at Miami on Dec. 29 and will miss at least a month.
Peyton Watson had 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15, but missed eight of their nine shots in the fourth quarter as Denver was outscored 24-11. Murray also had six rebounds and seven assists, finishing 12 for 28 from the field.
Three additional Nuggets starters were inactive in forwards Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Cam Johnson (right knee soreness), and guard Christian Braun (left ankle sprain). Backup center Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain) also is out for a month.
The Cavaliers took advantage of their absences, dominating the rebounding battle 55-32. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley had eight points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, but missed all five of his free throws.
Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen were all in the starting lineup for just the seventh time this season, winning for the fifth time. The Cavaliers have played an NBA-high 21 home games and are 13-8 at Rocket Arena.
Lonzo Ball saw his first action in three games for Cleveland, scoring six points in 15 minutes. Ball was taken out of the rotation in favor of Craig Porter Jr., who had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Spurs defeat Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS — De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their first game since Victor Wembanyama injured his left knee, beating the Indiana 123-113 on Friday night for the Pacers’ 11th straight loss.
Wembanyama hyperextended his knee Wednesday night in a home victory over New York. An MRI showed no ligament damage and the 7-foot-4 center stayed in San Antonio to rehabilitate the injury.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama is day-to-day but wouldn’t rule out the possibility he could play against Portland on Saturday night in San Antonio. The Spurs are 10-3 with Wembanyama doesn’t play.
Dylan Harper added 22 points for the Spurs, and Stephon Castle had 19.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard had 19 points, and Micah Potter added 16 in his first start in five games with Pacers.
The Pacers shot 51% while the Spurs made 44% overall. San Antonio made 22 of 28 free throws while Indiana was 13 of 15.
The Spurs scored the first six points of the third quarter to to make it 77-58. The Pacers regrouped to cut it to 93-85 after three quarters. San Antonio maintained control throughout the fourth quarter.
Elsewhere:
n Justin Champagnie scored a season-high 20 points and the Washington Wizards continued their recent improvement with a 119-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Alex Sarr added 19 points and CJ McCollum scored 17 for the Wizards, who still have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference (9-23) but have won four out of five for the first time since Feb. 8-16, 2023.
Day’Ron Sharpe, Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams and Drake Powell all had 14 points for Brooklyn (10-22), which has lost three straight following a three-game winning streak.
n Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.
n Deni Avdija had 34 points and 11 assists and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans 122-09.
Donovan Clingan had 11 points and 15 rebounds, Shaedon Sharpe scored 23 points and Caleb Love, who hit six 3-pointers, added 22 points for Portland, which took the lead for good in the second quarter en route to a third victory in four games.
Zion Williamson scored 35 points for New Orleans.
n Giannis Antetokounmpo dunked on a lob from Kevin Porter Jr. with 4.7 seconds remaining to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 122-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for his NBA-leading 158th game with at least 30 points, 10 boards and five assists.
n Matas Buzelis scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, Kevin Huerter added 20 points, and the Chicago Bulls rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 121-114.
Buzelis hit a pair of free throws with 22.8 seconds left to make it 119-114, then pulled in his ninth rebound to send in Isaac Okoro for a game-sealing dunk with 4 seconds remaining.
Nikola Vucevic added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Ayo Dosumnu had 17 points as Chicago outscored Orlando 30-19 in the fourth.


