Suddenly struggling Nuggets host Donovan Mitchell, Cavs

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have their All-Star guard back in time for the final push of the regular season.

The Denver Nuggets hope to get their standout guard back to stay in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Donovan Mitchell's return to the Cleveland lineup after a six-game absence led to a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. Now, the focus turns to Sunday's game at Denver against a Nuggets team stumbling without Jamal Murray in the lineup.

Denver (51-23) has lost two straight, including a pivotal game to Minnesota on Friday night, to fall into third in the West with eight games remaining. Murray has missed the past four games with right knee inflammation while also battling a sore shin. His status for Sunday is "iffy," coach Michael Malone said Friday.

The Nuggets also are concerned with the health of center Nikola Jokic, who is dealing with a sore right wrist. Jokic had his right arm wrapped when he was on the bench during the 111-98 loss to the Timberwolves but still managed to put up 32 points and 10 rebounds.

Jokic, one of the favorites to win his third MVP this season, said he doesn't think he will miss any time because of the wrist.

"I will see. I really trust the medical staff and our doctors. So, we will see," he said. "Hopefully it's going to be a little better just so I don't feel it every time I shoot it. But it's good, I'm used to the pain, so it's normal for me."

The Cavaliers (45-29) are third in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game ahead of New York and 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for second.

Cleveland climbed the standings with a 17-2 stretch to start the calendar year but followed that up by going 10-13.

Cleveland lost four of the six games while Mitchell was out with a broken nose and starts a difficult six-game road trip Sunday, with five games coming against teams currently holding a postseason seed.

"Every game's a playoff game," said Mitchell, who scored 12 points against Philadelphia in his first game since March 16. "That's what it's going to be every night.

"We've been injured and hurt, but there's no excuse at this point. We've got to go out there and continue to find ways to win these games and be ready at the right time."

The Cavaliers won the first meeting between the teams, 121-109 in Cleveland on Nov. 19 when Mitchell and Murray missed for separate injuries.

This one will be in Denver where the Nuggets were dominant until the past two games. They are 29-8 at home while the Cavaliers have struggled on the road of late.

Cleveland has lost four of its past five away from home but still has a winning road record (21-15).

The return of Mitchell - the team's leading scorer at 27.1 points a game - helps, even though he is playing with a mask to protect his nose.

- Field Level Media