Nuggets face Cavs on the back of Nikola Jokic's first 40-point game

The Denver Nuggets, fresh off of a win in New York thanks to Nikola Jokic‘s first career 40-point game, are looking to continue to build momentum and take down the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

With just three games remaining before the All-Star break, and the Nuggets dealing with injury issues, stealing a win from the reigning champions would be a huge step towards making the playoffs and extending their current game-and-a-half lead for the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff hunt.

Regular season game No. 54 | Denver Nuggets (24-29) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (36-16)

Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | 5:30 PM MST | TV: Altitude

Nikola Jokic

Let’s be honest here, the only way the Nuggets have a chance of beating the best team in the Eastern Conference is behind Jokic. He is the engine that has propelled this Nuggets offense into the elite class of offensive teams such as the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs. For the Nuggets to miraculously win in Cleveland on the second night of a back to back it will be behind the inspired play of Jokic.

What is most interesting about this matchup is how similarly James and Jokic are used. Both act as point guards even as frontcourt players. Both push the ball in transition and both are best utilized in the high post. If not for LeBron, and those before him, there may not have been a blueprint to get the most out of Jokic.

Jokic will need another herculean performance against the Cavaliers for Denver to escape with a win. The talent gap between Denver and Cleveland is vast and the only way Denver can win is through their star player putting the Nuggets on his back and carrying his team to victory. Expect a highly motivated Jokic from start to finish being that he loves the chance to play against the best players in the world.

Slowing Kevin Love

The Nuggets always get torched by opposing stretch-fours and Kevin Love may be the best in the business. Denver has trouble containing anyone on the perimeter so as Kyrie Irving frolics to the rim, collapsing the defense without opposition, it may very well be Love who reaps the most benefit.

The Nuggets will rely on Darrell Arthur to check Love on the perimeter with Faried still sidelined and Chandler will have his hands full doing what he can to slow down James. The Nuggets will need to find a way to slow the production of Love, who is enjoying his best season as a Cavalier, sporting a line of 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from three-point land.

Look for the Nuggets to throw all different kinds of defenders at him and to continue aggressively hedging in the pick-and-roll as they have done since the game against Atlanta. Juan Hernangomez, a tenacious defender who seems to be improving with every minute he plays, may be asked to spend time on Love.

Footnotes

Danilo Gallinari will miss his sixth straight game against the Cavaliers and is not expected back until after the All-Star break. Chandler will start in his place once again and Hernangomez will continue to play backup small forward against Cleveland.

Faried is also expected to be out until after the All-Star break. Expect Arthur to start at the four once again.

Emmanuel Mudiay will also sit again with low back pain. Jameer Nelson will start in his place looking to build on the 16 points and 12 assists he had against the Knicks