On the second night of a back-to-back, the Denver Nuggets continued their hot start to the 2018-19 season beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-91.

With the win, the Nuggets record now sits at 7-1 and puts them just a half game behind the Golden State Warriors for first place in the Western Conference.

With it being Denver’s second game in 24 hours, the Nuggets started slow allowing the Cavaliers to jump out to a 12-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Denver’s offense was struggling to score in the first and the Cavaliers made them pay. The Nuggets shot just 6-17 from the field in the opening quarter going just 1-6 from behind the three-point line. On the flip side, the Cavaliers shot 11-23 and forced six Denver turnovers translating into seven points. Denver’s struggles gave the Cavaliers a 27-15 lead going into the second quarter. The Nuggets were desperately looking for any type of spark.

They got that spark from their bench unit. The reserves began the second quarter on a 6-2 run to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to eight points. A Juancho Hernangomnez three shrunk the Nuggets deficit to three, as the bench unit, with Jamal Murray, did a solid job keeping the Nuggets in the game. The energy from the four bench players — Trey Lyles, Mason Plumlee, Malik Beasley, Hernangomez — and Murray kept the Cavaliers at bay as the Nuggets finally began to make shots. Back-to-back threes from Hernangomez and Beasley made it a 33-32 game with seven minutes remaining as Jokic subbed back in.

Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone kept Beasley, Lyles, and Hernangomez on the floor with Jokic and Gary Harris, and its a good thing he did. Six-straight points between Lyles and Hernnagomez tied the game up at 38 with five minutes remaining as the Nuggets finally eliminated their once 12-point deficit.

Hernangonmez’s play was so stellar he stayed in the game with the Nuggets starters hitting his third three of the night to give Denver a 44-38 lead with 2:16 before halftime. The spark Hernangomez provided was key in the Nuggets 16-4 run to close the second quarter to give them a 50-42 lead going into halftime.

After an abysmal first period, the Nuggets outscored Cleveland 35-15 in the second complimenting tremendous defense with efficient offense. Denver’s four threes in the second quarter were big in providing them some confidence going into halftime. Hernangomez was a huge part of that.

Stat leaders at the half were Hernangomez with 12 points and Harris who poured in nine points on 2-6 shooting from the field, 5-5 from the free-throw line. Paul Millsap, Lyles, and Murray all chipped in six points at the break, with Jokic and Plumlee leading the way rebounding with five a piece.

The Nuggets run continued into the third quarter as it reached 47-21 with 7:33 left in the period to give the Nuggets a 62-48 lead. Millsap’s offense was a big part in growing that run as he finally seems to have find some confidence and rhythm on the offensive end of the floor. Six-straight points from Millsap allowed Denver to stretch their lead and gave the rest of the team confidence on the offensive end of the floor.

Consecutive three pointers from Monte Morris and Torrey Craig gave Denver a 78-62 lead with 2:07 left in the third quarter. Denver would outscore Cleveland 33-24 in the third to stretch their lead out to 17 going into the fourth quarter. With the lead up to 83-66, the Nuggets were officially on a 68-39 run going into the final quarter.

The offense continued to role in the fourth quarter as everything was falling, even this Plumlee skyhook from just in front of the free-throw line.

Plumlee would make the free throw  as the Nuggets controlled the pace of play the rest of the quarter to walk away with a 110-91 victory over the Cavaliers.

Hernangomez led the Nuggets offensively with 23 points highlighted by five three-pointers, while also posting the Nuggets highest +/- rating with a +18. Lyles also provided big minutes off the bench with 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. As far as starters go, Millsap got back in a rhythm offensively with 16 points, while also chipping in six rebounds. Harris also had a big night for the Nuggets with 14 points to go along with three assists and two blocks.

The Nuggets are now 2-0 in back-to-backs this season to go along with a 3-1 record on the road. Denver will be off tomorrow before they’re back in action Saturday night to face the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center.