And Cavaliers – Warriors always remains special, especially when both teams desperately need a victory to move up the rankings. In “back-to-back”, Cleveland certainly seemed favorite without the Curry – Butler – Green trio in opposition, except that the reality on the ground demonstrated the opposite and Golden State came to create a surprise, with five players with 10 points or more.
If the first quarter is a real basketball mush, with a lot of clumsiness on both sides – regardless of the distance – and a glaring lack of cleanliness with the ball in hand, it is the Cavs who are doing “the best” (18-12). However, this is not going to get better because, in addition to Evan Mobley who can score near the circle, Cleveland’s shooters are missing their 3-point shots: only 3 out of 21 in the first half!
Even dominated on the rebound, therefore offering more ammunition to their opponents, the Warriors play better and above all find skill as the minutes go by. Around Quinten Post and Buddy Hield, the collective is better established, everyone – except Jonathan Kuminga – contributing effectively, and the gap increases as the 3-points fall in (45-36). We almost forget that Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are absent.
Cleveland on AC
On the Cavaliers side, energy is still at its lowest, despite the break, and the gap is increasing further. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell may wake up (a little), they do not pull their group up and Golden State has the same answer to everything, while danger comes from everywhere (except from Jonathan Kuminga, once again).
We have the feeling that the Cleveland players are only a small increase in skill away from restarting this game. This is confirmed by seeing them string together a few 3-pointers, since the gap quickly falls to one possession. The problem is that Pat Spencer comes out of his box and takes Gary Payton II with him, to put the Warriors back at +10. It was then that Donovan Mitchell pushed, with Evan Mobley under the circle, the 14-4 which brought the match to -3.
A game of free throws finally sets in, Darius Garland dropping one en route, as does Gui Santos, and that leaves will-o’-the-wisp Donovan Mitchell with the tying shot. At 3-point, he did not find the target and the surprising Pat Spencer then folded the match on the line (99-94). And to think that Golden State had started with an atrocious first quarter…
TO REMEMBER
– Golden State returns to balance nicely. It’s the type of success that very few would have banked on. Without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green, and with a sinking Jonathan Kuminga (4 points to 1/10), the Warriors found a way to win in Cleveland, to turn to 12-12 before the “back-to-back” in Chicago. They can thank Buddy Hield, Quinten Post, Gui Santos or Trayce Jackson-Daviswho all offered interesting minutes, but especially Pat Spencer who, for his first start, delivered a fiery last quarter (12 points). At the time when the Cavaliers were threatening.
– Cleveland is definitely not cured. After two victories in three games, the Cavaliers continue their yo-yo, losing for the fifth time in two weeks. Unable to find skill (only 35% overall, including 24% from 3-point range), they were long saved by their impressive number of offensive rebounds (24!), but such a non-match was to be punctuated by a defeat. The desire of the major players in the team still raises questions and playing at this point on alternating current will not be able to achieve much in the long term. Fortunately, the looming schedule is affordable…
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
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