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Nuggets Fall to Cavs 125-109

Associated Press

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each scored 27 points and combined for three 3-pointers in Cleveland's long-range barrage in the third quarter that sent the Cavaliers to a 125-109 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.

James added 12 assists in 32 minutes as the defending NBA champions won for the fifth time in six February games after going 7-8 in January.

Back from a four-game road trip, the Cavs didn't find their range until after halftime, when they opened the third with an 18-0 run to take control.

Irving drained two 3s on consecutive possessions, Kevin Love hit two more and James dropped another in a span of 2:43 as Cleveland pulled away and improved to 23-5 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who played their third game in four nights and didn't have the legs to mount a serious comeback after falling behind by 22 in the third.

Jokic scored a career-high 40 in a win over the Knicks on Friday.

The Cavs only led 59-55 at halftime and didn't exactly dazzle defensively in the first 24 minutes.

But Irving opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer and Cleveland was on its way, knocking down 6 of 9 from behind the arc. Everything fell for Cleveland during the 18-0 spurt as James even tossed in a shot that was supposed to be a lob to Tristan Thompson.

James, Irving and Love combined for 27 of Cleveland's 33 points in the third.

Derrick Williams, who signed a 10-day contract with the Cavs earlier this week, made his home debut at the start of the second quarter. He took the floor with James, Channing Frye, Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson, all of them taller than 6-foot-7.

The 25-year-old played all 12 minutes and contributed a 3-pointer and powerful dunk.

Jokić dominates the Knicks with his first career 40 point game.