If you took a look at the Warriors’ injury report before Saturday night’s tip-off in Cleveland, you probably would have bet the house on the Cavaliers. No Steph Curry. No Seth Curry. Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford? All in street clothes.
It was a lineup that looked more like a Summer League experiment than a contender. But nobody told Pat Spencer that. In a game that had “scheduled loss” written all over it, the Warriors scraped, clawed, and trash-talked their way to a stunning 99-94 victory, snapping a two-game losing skid in the most improbable way possible.
A Career Night For the Warriors’ Unlikely Star
Let’s be honest: Pat Spencer isn’t the first name on the scouting report. But with the stars back in the Bay, Spencer didn’t just step up; he kicked the door down. Fresh off back-to-back solid performances, he earned his first start and turned in a masterclass.
We’re talking a career-high 19 points and 7 assists. But it wasn’t just the numbers; it was the audacity. Midway through the fourth, Spencer drilled a triple, turned to the stunned Cleveland crowd, and let them hear about it. When you’re leading a ragtag crew against a fully loaded Cavs team featuring Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, you earn the right to talk a little smack.
The offense was ugly early on. Golden State only managed 12 points in the first quarter, but Spencer flipped the switch in the second. The Warriors outscored Cleveland 33-18 in that period, running the floor and catching a sleepwalking Cavs team completely off guard.
Young Guns Struggle and Shine Under Kerr’s Watch
Steve Kerr didn’t mince words before the game. He issued a challenge to his young core, specifically Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. The results? A mixed bag.
Kuminga, making his first start since mid-November, looked like a guy trying too hard to impress. With his agent in the stands, he forced the issue, finishing a brutal 1-of-10 from the field and driving into heavy traffic. Kerr wanted him to be the first guy down the floor, but the execution just wasn’t there.
Podziemski, on the other hand, kept it steady with 10 points and a couple of assists, playing the connector role the Warriors needed. And let’s give some love to Gui Santos. In a game where every active body played, Santos dropped 14 points and hit a clutch free throw to put the team up 97-94 with seconds remaining.
When Will the Cavalry Return?
While watching the bench mob beat a 64-win team is entertaining, Warriors fans are asking one question: When is Steph back?
Curry has been stuck in the Bay Area rehabbing a quad strain since Thanksgiving Eve. The good news? Kerr is optimistic. After chatting with the medical staff, the target date for Curry’s return seems to be the next home game on December 12. The team expects most of the other wounded veterans to suit up Sunday against the Bulls.
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