What we learned as Warriors winning streak ends in blowout loss to Cavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The military exuberant stroll through the NBA was interrupted Friday night by public looting in downtown Cleveland.
They took a 136-117 beating under a volley of Cavaliers buckets that served as a sharp rebuttal to Golden State’s thrilling triumph over the defending champion Celtics two nights earlier in Boston.
Because this was a “statement game” of a different kind, as it rudely informed the Warriors that there would be certain matchups – certainly this one – that would be problematic despite the depth on their roster.
The Warriors (7-2) gained some respect in the second half, summoning gray and outscoring the Cavs, 75-53, but there was far too much of a mountain to complete the climb against the league’s only undefeated (10-0) team . .
Jonathan Kuminga scored 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including an encouraging 3-of-7 from distance. Stephen Curry managed only 12 points, playing only 24 minutes, only eight in the second half.
Here are three takeaways from a game that will give Golden State’s coaches and players plenty to evaluate before heading to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Sunday:
Blitzed By The Jump
Cleveland scored 13 seconds into the game, and the Warriors answered 27 seconds later with a bucket of their own, pulling even at 2-2. That was the last tie of the game.
More than four minutes passed before Golden State got another point, as the Knights piled up 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, with some free throws, to take a 20-2 lead with 7:33 left in the first quarter. .
And it only got uglier. Cleveland followed its 39-point first quarter with a 44-point second quarter, taking an 83-42 lead at the half.
what happened The Cavaliers’ barrage amounted to an avalanche of buckets through the most gracious defense the Warriors have played this season. There were many breakdowns that led to easy buckets, slow closings on shooters and another component that had little to do with their defense.
Another factor was the offense returning to bad habits of the past, giving the Cavs 15 points from 13 turnovers in the first 24 minutes. It got better later, as Golden State finished with 17 turnovers, still giving up 15 total points.
Surprisingly Vulnerable On Glass
The Warriors came into the game as the top rebounding team in the NBA, averaging 49.5 per game. It’s a testament to their ability to overcome their relative lack of size with fundamentals and desire.
It didn’t matter. All in all. Not on this night.
The Cavaliers, ranked 23rd in rebounding (42.1 per game), went out and grabbed rebounds like bullies taking lunch money from the helpless. No one on the Golden State roster — not even one Redeemable glass eater Kevon Looney – found more than two rebounds in the first half as Cleveland posted a huge 25-13 advantage.
Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell, at 6-foot-2, had four rebounds at the half. So, too, did Golden State’s entire starting lineup. The Warriors recovered well in the second half, but eventually lost the rebounding battle 43-41.
Being outmatched almost always opens the door to defeat, and being dominated practically ensures it. That was among the Warriors’ most reliable assets, making this knock particularly painful.
Backcourt Back To Full Strength
Brandin Podziemski, who missed the win in Boston with an illness, returned to active duty, as did De’Anthony Melton, who missed five games with a lower back strain.
Both combo guards were listed on the afternoon injury report as “questionable” before warming up before the game and being cleared before tipoff.
Podziemski, who left at halftime of Golden State’s win over the Wizards on Monday in Washington, scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field (0-of-3 from beyond the arc). He posted a team high-tying seven rebounds, four steals and four assists. He played a team-high 27 minutes and was a plus-7.
Melton, who last played in an Oct. 27 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center, finished with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, including 2-of-6 from distance. He added three assists and two rebounds. He finished plus-6 over 18 minutes.
Both moved well, but neither could salvage much in this debacle. They will be needed on Sunday against the Thunder, who sit atop the Western Conference.
