Nuggets rediscover offensive identity in win over Cavaliers

Just 24 hours after the Denver Nuggets’ offense handed out 18 assists on 40 made field goals against the Memphis Grizzlies — a mark considered low by their standards — the Nuggets rediscovered their offensive identity Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers with both Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap in the starting lineup.

Denver tallied 20 assists on 28 field goals in the first half and finished with 35 assists on the night as the Nuggets built on their 73-point first half to outlast the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-117.

A 14-6 Nuggets’ run after the Cavaliers had trimmed the deficit to 83-78 midway through the third pushed Denver’s lead back to 10 late in the quarter. But Cleveland kept the score close until late in the fourth when back-to-back threes by Paul Millsap and Gary Harris with under two minutes remaining pushed Denver’s lead to seven. The Cavaliers had no answer.

After Nikola Jokic struggled offensively against Memphis and scored just nine points on 2-5 shooting, the Nuggets were able to recalibrate the offense around their big man Saturday. Jokic only scored nine points on 3-7 shooting, but he handed out eight assists to go with seven rebounds and was again the focal point of Denver’s attack,

Jokic was a team-high plus-12 in 32 minutes. Paul Millsap added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes.

In the first half, it was Gary Harris doing the heavy lifting. Harris, who’s 20-foot step-back jumper Friday in Memphis sealed Denver’s win with just under a minute remaining, scored 19 points in the first half and finished with 32 points.

Harris has scored at least 23 points in five of his last six outings.

Will Barton had 23 points on 9-17 shooting off the bench — a night after his 24 points helped lead Denver past Memphis.

As a team, the Nuggets committed just nine turnovers against the Cavaliers — down from the 22 Denver registered versus the Grizzlies.

Denver finishes up its three-game road trip Tuesday in Dallas.