Cavaliers end the Warriors road winning streak 115-104

BY TIM SHIRER

CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER

(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Cavs were finally healthy on Friday night when they traveled to Indianapolis to play the Pacers. But the result was the same as three other times early in this season as they fell to Indiana 121-116. The Cavs (3-4, 1-3 home) entered Sunday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors (5-2, 4-1 away). The Cavs played their best game of the season on both ends taking down the Warriors 115-104.

The first six minutes of the first quarter was all about three-point shots as the teams combined for seven. With 4:55 left the total was at eight and the score was tied 20-20 after Georges Niang drained a three to tie the score. The game remained close for the remainder of the opening quarter as the Warriors led 30-29. Steph Curry led all scorers with 11 points in the first 12 minutes. Niang paced the Cavs with six. Max Strus, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland each had five points. Golden State outrebounded the Cavs 13-11.

The Cavs took the lead early in the second quarter on a three by Dean Wade with 10:22 left on the first half clock. The Cavs continued their run out scoring the Warriors 7-0 to start the second quarter and take a 36-30 lead with 7:15 left on the clock. The Warriors put their first points up in the quarter with 7:01 left when Klay Thompson hit a three to cut the Cavs lead to 36-33. The Cavs continued to stay hot, outscoring the Warriors 21-12 the rest of the period to take a 57-45 lead into the locker room at halftime. Mitchell led all scorers with 17 points in the opening half. Garland also had 15 for the Cavs. Golden State was led by Curry who had 14 only three points in the second quarter. The Cavs outrebounded the Warriors 17-14 in the second and led on the boards 30-17 in the first half. Threes were definitely falling which is no surprise against Golden State. The Warriors shot 41% (9 of 22) from long range while the Cavs shot 28% (7 of 25). The Cavs also took better care of the ball, turning the ball over six times while the Warriors turned it over eight times.

The Cavs extended their lead to 14 at 69-55 with 8:25 left in the third quarter when Mitchell drained a three. The Warriors over the next five minutes whittled the Cavs lead to 79-73 on a layup from Trayce Jackson-Davis with 3:09 left in the third. The Cavs built the lead back to double digits at 84-74 with 1:18 left in the third on a technical free throw by Garland and a bench technical was accessed to Warriors. As the period ended the Cavs led 86-77. Curry led all scorers with 26. Mitchell led the Cavs with 24 and Garland had 20. The Cavs continued to lead the battle of the board 41-35.

The Warriors cut the lead to 86-80 on a Chris Paul three with just :24 off the fourth quarter clock. The Cavs came right back and increased the lead back to 11 at 93-82 when Mitchell drained a three with 9:42 left in regulation. Golden State once again trimmed the Cavs lead to four at 92-88 with 8:19 left when Jonathan Kuminga hit two free throws. Max Strus retaliated with a three with 8:03 left on the clock giving the Cavs a 95-88 advantage. The Cavs extended their lead to 12 at 104-92 with 5:09 left. The Warriors cut the lead to 108-98 on a Draymond Green layup courtesy of a turnover by Mitchell with 3:14 left on the game clock. Mitchell came right back and hit two free throws to put the Cavs lead pack to 12 at 110-98 with 2:49 left in the game after being fouled by Paul. Garland then extended the lead to 112-98 with 2:35 left in the contest when Max Strus got the rebound on a Warriors miss and hit Garland with a long pass. The Cavs sealed the deal on a nice give and go pass from Jarrett Allen in the paint to Evan Mobley at the basket. Mobley slammed it home and gave the Cavs a 114-100 lead with just 1:44 left in regulation. Cleveland ended the Warriors’ four game winning streak to open the season 115-104. Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points including 14 second half points. Garland also had 24 points. All five Cavs starters were in double figures in scoring. Curry led the Warriors with 28 in a losing effort. Green contributed 18 points. The Cavs outrebounded Golden State 54-44 led by Mobley who pulled down 14 boards in the game. Cleveland shot 49% (41-83) while Golden State shot a miserable 36% (34-94) from the field. The Cavs shot 79% (22-28) from the charity stripe out shooting the Warriors who shot 67% (20-30).

The win was the Cavs first at home this season as they are now 1-3 at RMFH.

The Cavs will be on the road for their next contest in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night to take on the Thunder at the Paycom Center at 8 pm. The Thunder beat Cavs on opening night at RMFH 108-105.