Kerr Surrenders with 4:39 Remaining: Curry and Wiggins Struggle as Warriors Suffer Another Humiliating Defeat
On December 31st, Beijing time, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors to secure their seventh consecutive victory. The Warriors, known for their prowess in the third quarter, were defeated by the Cavaliers using their own strengths—three-point shooting and transition offense. The Cavaliers comfortably maintained a 20-point lead in the final quarter, ultimately securing the win and completing a season double over the Warriors, extending their winning streak across seasons to four games.
This game marked the second encounter between the Cavaliers and the Warriors this season, resulting in a third consecutive victory for the Cavaliers against the Warriors. Prior to this season, the Cavaliers had suffered a 16-game losing streak against the Warriors, which ended with Game 5 of the 2017 Finals until the first match of the 2023-24 season. The rivalry between these two teams continues, with the Cavaliers currently leading the league and eager to extend their winning streak. They successfully achieved a four-game winning streak against the Warriors.
In the first quarter, Curry struggled with his shooting, going 1 for 4 and 0 for 3 from three-point range, scoring only 2 points and 2 assists. Garland and Mitchell effectively limited Curry, but the Cavaliers' numerous turnovers—eight in the first quarter—gifted points to the Warriors. Schroder and Wiggins each scored 5 points, while the Warriors' nine-man rotation saw only Waters fail to score. The Cavaliers trailed the Warriors by one point at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with a physical battle between the two teams. Green took down Strus, and Kuminga collided with Mitchell, leading to multiple missed shots from both sides. Jerome's two three-pointers broke the stalemate, allowing the Cavaliers to take the lead and prompting a timeout from Kerr. Garland, who was later substituted in, made three successful drives and drew a foul on Kuminga, scoring 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the quarter. He was instrumental in breaking the Warriors' defense. At halftime, Garland had 16 points compared to Curry's 2, and the Cavaliers led the Warriors by 8 points.
Kuminga reached a milestone of 3,000 points, but the Cavaliers' accuracy from beyond the arc proved too much for the Warriors, with a stretch of five consecutive three-pointers that extended the lead to 20 points. Curry finally made his first three-pointer, followed by two more attempts, one of which missed everything. Allen's alley-oop dunk from the free-throw line increased the lead to 24 points. Mitchell added his fifth three-pointer of the quarter, and the Warriors still trailed by 18 points at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Merrill hit a three-pointer, and Dean Wade dominated the offensive rebounds, overwhelming the Warriors. Garland's return to the court left Green disoriented, and the Cavaliers quickly extended their lead to 22 points. Moody's 2+1 play was countered by a three-pointer from LeVert. Mobley and Allen were both called for their fifth fouls, but the Cavaliers remained uncontainable. With 4:39 remaining, Kerr conceded defeat and replaced Curry.
In the entire game, Curry played for 29 minutes, shooting 4 for 14 and 3 for 11 from three-point range, scoring 11 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds. Wiggins scored 11 points, and Schroder went 4 for 12, scoring 12 points. Combined, Schroder and Curry shot 8 for 26 and 5 for 15 from three-point range, indicating a tough night for the Warriors' shooters.
Written by Yan Xiaobai: Warrior Watch