⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Nuggets fell 8 points behind the pace we expected in the first quarter, then it evened out by full time.
Where it moved
▲ DEN better than we expected
▼ CLE better than we expected
The first quarter was where it moved most, 8 points worse than our numbers for the Nuggets.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Nuggets won, and why the Cavaliers did not.
From the game
Lived at the line, 31 free throws to their sixteen- Won the glass, 56 rebounds to 35
- Owned the paint, 58 points inside to 42
- Kept giving it away, 22 turnovers to their fifteen, and were outscored 25-14 off them
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Nuggets
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run cut a 12-point deficit to 3
Q3 8:29 · DEN 59-62 CLE
- Winner
Ty Lawson hit a driving layup, Andre Miller with the assist
Q4 1:47 · DEN 91-89 CLE
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
Cavaliers
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run took them from 3 down to 6 up
Q1 5:26 · DEN 16-22 CLE
- Ties it
Tristan Thompson hit a 5-foot two point shot
Q4 2:12 · DEN 89-89 CLE
Bad plays
- Missed FT
Alonzo Gee misses free throw 1 of 2
Q4 3:40 · DEN 87-87 CLE
- Missed FT
Alonzo Gee misses free throw 2 of 2
Q4 3:40 · DEN 87-87 CLE
📊The numbers
| DEN | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| 44% | Shooting from the field | 44% |
| 4 | Threes made | 5 |
| 25% | Three-point accuracy | 21% |
| 22 | Free throws made | 12 |
| 63 | Rebounds | 44 |
| 19 | Offensive rebounds | 10 |
| 24 | Assists | 12 |
| 58 | Points in the paint | 42 |
| 11 | Fast break points | 11 |
| 14 | Points off turnovers | 25 |
| 22 | Turnovers | 15 |
| 4 | Steals | 14 |
| 7 | Blocks | 4 |
