Cavs top Nuggets 117-109

Cleveland caps 3-2 road trip

1/18/2014

DENVER — Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night.

C.J. Miles added 19 points for Cleveland, including four free throws down the stretch. Luol Deng scored 18.

The Cavaliers finished their five-game Western Conference road trip with a 3-2 record after winning in Denver for the second time in three years. They led most of the way and held off a late rally by the Nuggets that cut a double-digit lead to three early in the fourth quarter.

Denver had won its last four home games, but fell to 11-9 at Pepsi Center this season. It had a 38-3 home record last season.

The Nuggets attempted a season-high 37 3-pointers, making 14, but struggled from long range down the stretch.

After Tyler Zeller’s free throw made it 94-86 with 9 minutes, 33 seconds left, Evan Fournier hit a floating jump shot in the lane and Nate Robinson made a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three. It was the closest Denver had been since the second quarter.

The Cavaliers responded with five straight points. Anderson Varejao hit a jumper and free throw and Irving also scored to make it 99-91.

Denver made a couple more charges, but each rally fizzled when it got close.