The Cleveland Cavaliers, having dominated the first third of their schedule, now face a challenging stretch as they kick off a four-game road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
Cavaliers’ Recent Form
The Cavaliers are riding a five-game winning streak and are coming off a close victory against the Utah Jazz, despite missing forwards Dean Wade (knee) and Isaac Okoro (shoulder). Wade could return on Friday, while Okoro is expected to be out for a couple of weeks.
In the absence of Wade and Okoro, the Cavaliers utilized a smaller lineup, with forward Evan Mobley stepping up with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The third overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley is averaging a career-best 18.5 points and nine rebounds per game. He complements guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, who have been pivotal to Cleveland’s success. Mitchell (23.3 points) and Garland (20.4) lead the team in scoring, while center Jarrett Allen averages a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds), adding depth to the squad.
Nuggets’ Key Players
Friday marks the final meeting between these teams this season, with Denver looking to even the score after a 126-114 loss in Cleveland on December 5. Nuggets star Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double in that game, one of his NBA-leading 11 this season. Jokic, with 141 career triple-doubles, ranks third all-time behind teammates Russell Westbrook (200) and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson (181).
The Nuggets have won five of their last seven games but will be without forward Aaron Gordon, who left Wednesday night’s 110-100 loss at Phoenix with a right calf strain. Gordon, who missed 10 games earlier this season with the same injury, is fifth on the team in scoring (13.7 points) and is Denver’s most versatile defender. In his absence, Peyton Watson, the team’s leading shot-blocker, is expected to start.
Jokic leads Denver in scoring (30.7 points), rebounding (12.6), and assists (9.4), and is having another MVP-worthy season. The Nuggets will also rely on Jamal Murray, who is second on the team in scoring (18.8 points), despite dealing with injuries. Murray is probable for Friday after sitting out Monday’s win over Phoenix with a right ankle sprain and scoring 13 points in his return on Wednesday.
Key Matchup
Cleveland will need to maintain their strong form and rely on contributions from their key players to start their road trip on a positive note. The Nuggets, led by Jokic, will look to bounce back and take advantage of Cleveland’s potential vulnerabilities.
