Denver Nuggets wins over Cleveland Cavaliers earn them playoff spot

On Sunday to book a place in the playoff spot Nikola Jokic helped the Denver Nuggets to win over Cleveland Cavaliers 130-101. He scored 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists as he completed his 23rd triple-double of the season.

Nikola Jokic scored his 128th career triple-double while he was having a sore in his right wrist. Denver Nuggets forward Jamal Murray was left out due to a knee and ankle injury. He missed out on his fifth game, but ahead of the game coach Michael Malone stated that he has progressed well.

As Denver Nuggets were on two back-to-back defeats Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from 3-point range got season-high 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. His teammate Reggie Jackson who came in place of Murray scored 19 points and Michael Porter Jr. who came in half-game scored 19 points for the team.

Denver Nuggets are now in third position in the Western Conference

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, Evan Mobley got 23 points and Jarrett Allen scored 19 points. Donovan Mitchell who was playing his second game after coming back from a broken nose scored the first two shots of the game. Nikola Jokic got a triple-double as Aaron Gordon gave him the pass and in 5:04 minutes left in the third quarter, the Denver Nuggets were leading 85-66. He missed out on getting a triple-double in the first half, he scored 14 points nine rebounds, and eight assists but the Denver Nuggets got the lead with help from Christian Braun.

Braun intercepted an inbounds ball and made a layup, then nailed a corner 3-pointer off a tip-assist from Jokic and finished with a driving layup to put the Nuggets up 58-50. Denver outscored Cleveland 36-21 in the third quarter. With this win, the Denver Nuggets are now in third position in the Western Conference League and the Cleveland Cavaliers are fourth in the Eastern Conference League.

Cleveland Cavalier's next match will be against Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets will face San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.