Game Recap: Cavs vs Warriors

*** The Cavaliers played their ugliest half of the season, and a fourth quarter rally wasn’t enough to erase the slow start, as the Wine and Gold dropped one of the more frustrating decisions of the young season – falling to a shorthanded Warriors squad, 99-94, to wrap up a three-game homestand. 

In that fateful first half, the Cavaliers scored just 36 points – 18 in each of the first two quarters – shooting 27 percent from the floor, including 14 percent from deep, making just six trips to the stripe and handing out seven total assists. Cleveland trailed by nine at intermission and by 10 after three quarters before finally making some headway in the fourth – mounting a furious late rally that get them to within two, 96-94, with 21 seconds to play. 

Golden State’s Gui Santos split a pair of free throws on the Dubs next possession and Cleveland had a chance to tie the game, but Donovan Mitchell’s three-point attempt drew side iron with 4.1 remaining and Pat Spencer’s free throws on the other end sealed the deal. 

The Warriors – playing without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green – took advantage of a tired Cleveland squad playing the second half of a back-to-back and three games in four nights. The Cavaliers were also without Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, Lonzo Ball, Tyrese Proctor and Larry Nance Jr. 

Cleveland was led once again by Donovan Mitchell, who notched 16 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter, going 11-for-26 from the floor, including 7-for-14 from long-range, adding four boards and three assists. Mitchell has now drilled 92 threes on the season – tops in the NBA. 

Coach Kenny Atkinson credited the Warriors – with whom he won an NBA Championship in 2022 – for their effort despite the absences. 

“We were fighting, but we could not get over the hump,” said Atkinson. “You give the Warriors a ton of credit. They came in here with a fresh, young group and a lot of energy. They really got after us. (Gary Payton II) was a terror, like he normally is, and made it really hard on Don.”

Darius Garland followed up with 17 points on 6-for-15 shooting adding five boards and a team-high four assists on the night. Overall, the Wine and Gold – one night after handing out 32 assists – dealt just 15 dimes on Saturday, a season low. 

Evan Mobley chipped in with 18 points on 8-of-19 shooting, adding 10 boards for his third straight double-double, fourth in his last five games. Jaylon Tyson also doubled-up in the loss – his second of the week – finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds, going 5-of-12 from the field. 

On the night, the sluggish Cavaliers shot 35 percent from the floor, 24 percent from long-range, and took just a dozen free throw attempts. On the positive side of the ledger, Cleveland excelled on the boards – grabbing a season-high 61 rebounds, 24 of those off the offensive glass. 

Pat Spencer led the Warriors with 19 points, going 7-for-12 from the floor and adding a game-high seven assists in the win. 

*** The Cavaliers didn’t get much production off their reserves outside of Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who tied a career-high with a game-high 12 rebounds in just 16 minutes of work off the bench. Overall, Cleveland’s second unit was a combined 5-for-26 from the floor and were outscored, 47-13. 

*** After playing 10 of their last 13 games here at Rocket Arena, the Wine and Gold hit the road – but not for a while – traveling to D.C. for a Friday night meeting with the Wizards. On Sunday afternoon, the Cavs are right back in town – facing off against the Hornets before a home-and-home matchup with the Bulls the following week – traveling to Chicago next Wednesday before welcoming Billy Donovan’s squad to town two nights later.