Cavaliers’ Mitchell and Harden close out 119-117 road win over Nuggets in Denver thriller

Cleveland rallies late at Ball Arena as Mitchell seals it at the line

The Cleveland Cavaliers closed a five-game Western Conference trip with a 119-117 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Ball Arena, using a late comeback powered by Donovan Mitchell and newly acquired James Harden.

Cleveland entered the night at 33-21 and left with a two-point road victory after outscoring Denver 32-25 in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets, 34-20, had opportunities in the final minute but could not convert, including a last-second three-point attempt by Nikola Jokic that missed at the buzzer.

Late-game sequence turns on Harden’s tying three and Mitchell’s closing free throws

Denver led by 11 in the fourth quarter before Cleveland’s rally tightened the margin. With 32 seconds remaining, Harden hit a step-back three-pointer to tie the game at 117-117. On the next Cleveland possession, Mitchell drew a foul and made two free throws with under a second left to put the Cavaliers in front for good.

Denver’s final possession ended with Jokic’s missed three-pointer as time expired.

Mitchell leads all scorers; Harden’s second game in Cleveland features two-way impact

Mitchell finished with 32 points and 10 assists, scoring Cleveland’s final two points at the line. Harden, playing his second game with the Cavaliers after being acquired on Feb. 4, contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds, along with seven assists. Cleveland also received a double-double from Jarrett Allen, who scored 22 points and collected 13 rebounds.

For Denver, Jokic posted a triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, but also committed six turnovers. Denver’s scoring balance included 20 points each from Christian Braun and Julian Strawther, while Jamal Murray had 17 points and 11 assists.

What the result means heading toward the break

The win continued a strong stretch for Cleveland, which has won eight of its last nine games. Denver, meanwhile, has dropped four of its last five.

• Final score: Cavaliers 119, Nuggets 117 (Feb. 9, 2026)

• Key closers: Harden’s tying 3-pointer; Mitchell’s go-ahead free throws

• Notable stat line: Jokic triple-double (22-14-11) in a two-point loss

Cleveland’s late execution—creating a tying three, then forcing a foul on the final scoring possession—proved decisive in a two-possession endgame.

The teams also met earlier this season in Cleveland on Jan. 2, 2026, when the Cavaliers won 113-108 behind 33 points from Mitchell.