Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland-cavaliers Picks and Predictions December 27th 2024

Injuries Not Slowing Down Cavaliers, Who Face Dinged-Up Nuggets

The Cleveland Cavaliers, riding a five-game winning streak, begin a challenging four-game Western Conference road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Despite missing key players, the Cavaliers have continued to thrive, showcasing their depth and adaptability.

Cavaliers Overcome Injuries, Eye Sixth Straight Win

Cleveland enters Friday’s matchup without forward Isaac Okoro, who is sidelined with a right shoulder sprain, and potentially without Dean Wade (knee). The Cavaliers leaned on a smaller lineup in their recent 122-119 victory over Utah, with Evan Mobley stepping up to deliver 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Mobley, the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has been pivotal to Cleveland’s success this season. Averaging 18.5 points and nine rebounds per game, he complements a strong backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

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Mitchell (23.3 points per game) and Garland (20.4) lead the team offensively, while Jarrett Allen contributes a double-double on average (13 points, 10 rebounds). The trio, along with Mobley, gives Cleveland one of the NBA’s most balanced lineups.

“For us to be the team we want to be … Evan had to take that step,” Mitchell said. “The best part about it is Jarrett Allen is his biggest cheerleader.”

Nuggets Battle Their Own Injury Concerns

Denver has also been navigating injuries, with forward Aaron Gordon exiting Wednesday’s 110-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns due to a right calf strain. Gordon, who missed 10 games earlier this season with the same issue, is a critical piece of Denver’s defense and averages 13.7 points per game.

“Hopefully, Aaron is going to be ready to go for Cleveland, but we’ll have to wait and see these next 24, 48 hours,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

If Gordon is unavailable, Denver may rely on Peyton Watson, their top shot-blocker, to fill the void.

The Nuggets will also look to Nikola Jokic, who is having another MVP-caliber season. Jokic leads the team in scoring (30.7 points), rebounding (12.6), and assists (9.4) and has recorded an NBA-best 11 triple-doubles this season. Jamal Murray, averaging 18.8 points per game, remains an essential contributor despite battling injuries of his own. Murray returned Wednesday after missing Monday’s game with an ankle sprain but managed just 13 points.

“If I’m good enough to play, I play,” Murray said. “That’s how I look at it.”

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Season Series and Matchup Outlook

The Cavaliers defeated the Nuggets 126-114 in Cleveland on Dec. 5, with Jokic notching a triple-double in the loss. Friday offers Denver a chance at redemption and an opportunity to solidify its position in the competitive Western Conference.

For Cleveland, maintaining their winning streak on this road trip would further validate their strong start to the season, even as they continue to battle injuries. With both teams missing key players, this matchup promises to test the depth and resilience of two of the NBA’s top squads.