The Cleveland Cavaliers continue their impressive run, powering past the Denver Nuggets 149-135 on Friday night.
Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 33 points, while Jarrett Allen dominated inside with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The supporting cast stepped up too – Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert off the bench, and returning Dean Wade all hit double figures in a season-high scoring outburst.
The win marked Cleveland’s sixth straight, pushing their league-best record to 27-4.
The Cavs’ remarkable season hasn’t gone unnoticed, with NBA Insider Sam Amico drawing parallels to the legendary 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.
Even in tighter games, like their recent battle with Utah, Cleveland shows a knack for closing out wins in crunch time – a trait reminiscent of those Warriors.
“You see the similarities in the way that they’re finishing games and winning games,” Amico noted.”
Do the #Cavs play like the 15-16 Warriors? #LetEmKnow
"You can see similarities in the way they are finishing games."
presented by: @drinkgaragebeer pic.twitter.com/M1OIl4bVkz
— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) December 30, 2024
What stands out about this Cavaliers squad is their depth and versatility. Even on nights when they’re not firing on all cylinders, different players rise to the occasion, especially in those crucial final minutes.
Against Denver, that collective effort was on full display as they pulled away late for a comfortable victory.
The Warriors comparison carries serious weight – that 2015-16 team is widely considered among the NBA’s greatest.
They shattered records with a 73-9 regular season mark, surpassing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ previous best of 72 wins.
Stephen Curry made history as the league’s first unanimous MVP, leading Golden State to an unprecedented 24-game win streak to start the season and an NBA-record 34 road victories.
Yet despite their historic run, they famously fell short in the Finals, surrendering a 3-1 lead to none other than the Cleveland Cavaliers.
NEXT: Cavs Have Impressive Record Against Western Conference This Season
