Cavaliers, Hawks, and Spurs shine in the NBA: Mitchell and Fox lead victories

MIAMI, USA – The Cleveland Cavaliers started 2026 on the right foot, surpassing the Denver Nuggets with a score of 113-108. This victory represents their third consecutive win in a vibrant NBA day, marked by outstanding individual performances and notable absences.

Mitchell Leads Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell shone as the central figure of the match, accumulating 33 points in 35 minutes of play. The Rocket Arena, with an attendance of 19,432 fans, witnessed how the Cavaliers adjusted their defense in the last quarter, limiting Denver to only 11 points, after having faced difficulties during much of the game. The victory was achieved without the presence of Nikola Jokic, who will be out of the courts for approximately four weeks due to a left knee injury. Despite this absence, the Nuggets managed to have a lead of more than ten points in the third period.

“We didn’t play at our level for the first three quarters, but the key was to keep defending,” Mitchell commented after the game.

Donovan Mitchell

Darius Garland contributed 18 points, while Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 34 units, showing 43% field goal efficiency.

Hawks take advantage of Towns’ absence

In Atlanta, the Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 111-99, who suffered their second consecutive loss. This time, the Knicks did not have Karl-Anthony Towns, who was absent due to illness. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks’ offense, scoring 23 points each. Atlanta took control of the game from the end of the first quarter, extending their lead to as many as 26 points, although the Knicks managed to reduce the difference in the final stretch.

Fox Boosts the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs achieved their 25th victory of the season, defeating the Indiana Pacers 123-113. This match marked their first game without Victor Wembanyama, who suffered a hyperextension in his left knee. De’Aaron Fox took over the offensive leadership, contributing 24 points, followed by Dylan Harper, who added 22 from the bench. San Antonio maintains a solid performance against teams with losing records, with a 15-1 record in those matchups. On the other hand, the Pacers extended their losing streak to 11 consecutive losses, remaining in last place in the Eastern Conference.