Warriors spoil Cavs’ Christmas
Warriors make it 2-1 versus Cavaliers in third straight Dec. 25 duel
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA— Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Klay Thompson added 24, and both made crucial plays in the final seconds on Monday, lifting NBA champion Golden State over Cleveland, 99-92. In their third consecutive Dec. 25 meeting, the host Warriors won for the 12th time in 13 games to reach 27-7 while the Cavaliers fell to 24-10. Cleveland’s Kevin Love had a game-high 31 points.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA— Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Klay Thompson added 24 and both made crucial plays in the final seconds Monday, lifting the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over Cleveland, 99-92.
In a Christmas rematch of the NBA Finals that marked their third consecutive meeting on the holiday, the host Warriors won for the 12th time in 13 games to reach 27-7 while the Cavaliers fell to 24-10.
The Warriors won, 89-83, in 2015, but the Cavaliers escaped the following year, 109-108.
Golden State grabbed a 90-81 edge, the Warriors’ biggest of the night, before the Cavaliers answered with an 11-2 run, pulling level at 92-92 on a LeBron James layup with two minutes remaining.
Thompson sank a 3-pointer to put Golden State ahead to stay and tough defensive pressure by Durant forced James to lose the ball out of bounds.
“He wants to guard him,” coach Steve Kerr said of Durant’s desire to defend James. “It just so happens that KD is the right matchup for us.”
The Cavaliers got the ball back after the Warriors missed two 3-point shots. James drove to the basket and appeared to be fouled, but no whistle was blown and the ball was ruled to have gone out of bounds off James.
“He fouled me twice,” James said. “But whatever. What are you going to do about it?”
Durant said his moves were clean.
“He’s too big,” Durant said. “He’s too big for that. He’s too big. That ain’t no foul.”
The Cavs were forced to foul to stop the clock and Thompson sank four late free throws to seal the triumph.
Cleveland’s Kevin Love had game highs of 31 points and 18 rebounds while James added 20 points but made a game-high seven turnovers.
The Warriors were without Stephen Curry, who has missed three weeks with an ankle injury and could miss another week, while the Cavaliers were without Isaiah Thomas, who has been sidelined since being obtained in a trade with Boston involving Kyrie Irving.
At Boston, the Washington Wizards closed the game with a 21-8 run in a 111-103 victory over the Celtics. OTHER RESULTS: Timberwolves 121, Lakers 104; Thunder 112, Rockets 107; Sixers 105, Knicks 98