A decisive loser to the Knicks in New York on Sunday, the Denver Nuggets outplayed the Cavaliers Monday night, 106-97, at the Q.
The Cavaliers got on the right track when they defeated the Nuggets on Nov. 7, their first of four consecutive wins. This game wasn’t supposed to be close.
“It could have been our defense,” Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw said, talking about their last encounter before the game. “Our defense seems to have gotten every team that we’ve played going.”
Not on this night. Cleveland (5-4) looked as if it was the team playing the second game of a back-to-back. Denver had lost seven of its last eight before Monday. Denver (3-8) got 24 points from Ty Lawson and 23 from Arron Afflalo, with Lawson producing a game-high 12 assists. Darrell Arthur went 5-for-6 from the field to finish with 13 points off the bench.
James was listed as probable entering Monday’s game with a head cold. He missed morning shootaround, but said he had no doubt he would suit up, saying, “I’ve been better. I’m in the lineup so I’m all right.”
He got off to a sluggish start, going 3-for-9 with two turnovers in the first half. He finished with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out four assists.
Kyrie Irving added 20 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Dion Waiters put in 20 points off the bench.
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