Warriors Beats Cavs on Christmas Day Special

NBA – The defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors host the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers in their first meeting this season, on Christmas Day Specials at Oracle Arena in Oakland. 

The Warriors ranked 2nd best in the West Standings with 26 wins and 7 losses, while the Cavaliers is sitting 3rd in the East Standings with 24 wins and 9 losses.


Both teams are currently playing good basketball this season, The Warriors have an 11 – game winning streak before the Denver Nuggets snapped it prior to this game while the Cavaliers had their own winning streak to 13 – game winning streak tying the franchise record and won 19 of their last 21 games after a slow start this season.

Early in the game the Cleveland Cavaliers are mostly in control of the game posting their biggest lead of 7 points, outscoring the home team 24 – 20 at the end of the 1st quarter. As expected LeBron James and Kevin Durant to lead their team where both players scored 9 points.

In the 2nd quarter, the Warriors take their first lead of the game 42 – 39 after a made 3’s by Kevin Durant with 3:02 to go, the lead was up to 5 points after a 7 – 0 run by the Warriors but the visiting team manage to cut the lead in just 2 points at the half. The Warriors outscored the Cavaliers 22 – 16 in the 2nd quarter to finish the half leading by 2 points 46 – 44.

Durant leads all scorers with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assists and 2 blocks for the home team while Kevin Love leads the Cavs with 11 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James just healed with 10 points in 4 out of 10 shooing.

In the 3rd quarter Kevin Love is keeping the Cavaliers alive against the Warriors while his team mates LeBron James is struggling throughout the day. Love scored 26 points and 17 rebounds in 3 quarters to keep the Cavaliers hang on down by just 4 points at the end of the 3rd 71 – 67, Warriors by 4 pts. Durant leads the Warriors in the after 3 quarters with 20 points.

In the 4th quarter, The Warriors are enjoying the biggest lead of the game with 9 points 90 – 81 with under 5 minutes to go in the quarter, but the Cavaliers roars back with an 11 – 2 run to tie the game 92 all with under 2 minutes to go. The Warriors regain the lead after a made 3’s by Klay Thompson 95 – 92, the Cavs had their chance, but LeBron James made some crucial turnovers in the end game that caused to their 10th loss of the season.

James finished the game with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assist while Kevin Love has game high of 31 points and 18 rebounds for the Warriors Kevin Durant scores 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks and some key defensive stop  to LeBron James while Klay Thompson added 24 points scoring the last 7 points of the Warriors.

Meanwhile Stephen Curry did not play in the game to miss his 9th straight game due to ankle injury.