The Cavaliers were missing two of their top three scorers, but the Nuggets were missing two of their finest players as well.

That wasn’t the idea, but that’s how the Cavs’ 121-109 loss against a depleted team unfolded on Sunday. Already without Jamal Murray due to a hamstring injury, the Nuggets battled Nikola Jokic’s foul trouble all night, erasing one double-digit hole but unable to overcome another. As a result, it was their fourth straight road loss and their first back-to-back losses since Games 3 and 4 of their second-round playoff series against Phoenix in May.

Donovan Mitchell, who has been inextricably linked with Murray since their electrifying fights in the 2020 playoffs, missed the game with an identical injury to the same ankle, while CarVert was also declared out before tip-off. Even without them, the Cavaliers were more than capable of defeating the defending champions, paced by point guard Darius Garland’s 26 points and Craig Porter Jr.’s 21.

Garland called off his teammates for an isolation against Julian Strawther late in the third quarter, with many Denver rookies playing and Jokic still out as Michael Malone began to consider a back-to-back in Detroit on Monday. The All-Star guard, who blew by for an easy driving layup, provided him with vital experience. That summed up the Nuggets’ (9-4) night, in which they failed to contain Garland and five other double-digit scorers regardless of the matchup.

Cleveland outscored opponents 19-4 on second-chance points. Cavs won the paint battle 56-46.

Jokic ended with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in 27 minutes, his shortest playing time this season. After the halftime, Jokic committed his fourth and fifth fouls on successive Denver possessions, turning a looming potential issue into a game-defining obstacle. Jokic’s second offensive foul, in particular, appeared to be an act of defiance, as he doubled down on his forceful post-up approach and was rewarded with a flagrant. He came off the bench for the final 7:32 of the quarter.

Malone experimented with a different small-ball lineup after Jokic picked up his second foul with 2:19 left in the first: two point guards (Reggie Jackson and Jalen Pickett), two shooting guards (Christian Braun and Justin Holiday), and Zeke Nnaji, who had originally checked in to play the four.

That team outscored Cleveland 2-0 for the rest of the first, but the second unit faltered early in the second as Cleveland’s Porter Jr. tallied up points. Malone went back to his starters after a 13-point disadvantage, and a quick 18-5 surge momentarily alleviated the problem. However, Denver was unable to maintain good defense. When Jokic was called for his third foul with 1:30 left in the half, the Cavs’ lead had already dropped to 59-53. Jokic pleaded with Malone to let him see out the final 90 seconds, but Malone refused.

Nnaji, who was supposed to be Jokic’s backup, had played less than 6:30 in four of the previous games, but Malone said before the game that he planned to change that. “Sometimes it’s not that Zeke may not be doing his job, but I know exactly what Aaron (Gordon) is gonna give me to guard great players like Kawhi (Leonard) and Zion (Williamson),” he was quoted as saying. “I have to find ways to give Zeke more minutes, whether it’s at the four with Nikola, at the five behind Nikola, or wherever.” I never have to worry about Zeke going out there and abandoning everything.”

Nnaji ended up playing 14:17 on Sunday, despite having to go through garbage time with Denver down large.