Pat Spencer recorded a career-best 19 points in his first NBA start, propelling the Golden State Warriors to a 99-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Spencer’s performance proved pivotal as the Warriors overcame a sluggish start and a late Cavaliers rally to secure the win.
The Warriors, who have dropped five of seven games, needed a spark, and Spencer provided it. This win is meaningful for Golden State as they navigate a competitive Western Conference, while the cavaliers, also having lost five of seven, seek to regain momentum in the East. both teams will look to build on this contest as they approach upcoming matchups.
Golden State endured a difficult first quarter, shooting just 4 of 23 from the field and trailing 18-12. They rebounded to shoot 29 of 63 in the remainder of the game. The Cavaliers struggled with their shooting, posting a season-low 34.6% field goal percentage (37 of 107) and 23.6% from three-point range (10 of 42).
The Warriors built a 14-point lead in the third quarter and entered the fourth with a 72-62 advantage. Though, the Cavaliers mounted a fierce comeback, fueled by a 15-5 run that narrowed the gap to 96-94 with 11 seconds left.
After Jonathan Santos made one of two free throws, leaving the score at 97-94, cleveland called a timeout. Donovan Mitchell’s potential game-tying three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining missed,and pat spencer sealed the victory with two prosperous free throws.
Earlier in the game,the Cavaliers had established a 23-14 lead before the Warriors responded with a 27-8 run spanning nearly seven minutes in the second quarter. During that stretch, Golden State shot 8 of 10 from the field, including five three-pointers, with eight different players contributing to the scoring. Cleveland, conversely, managed only 3 of 27 shots during the same period.
Jarrett Allen and Lonzo Ball did not play for the Cavaliers.
The Warriors will next face the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, while the Cavaliers will visit the Washington wizards on Friday.
