The Golden State Warriors (22-23, 5-18 Away), one of the league’s top scoring teams, travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers (28-18, 19-4 Home) on Friday. Golden State is playing the second of a back-to-back after being edged out by the Boston Celtics 121-118 in overtime at TD Garden yesterday.
With 29 points and seven assists, Stephen Curry led the way in the loss. The Warriors are the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Cleveland dropped a close one on Wednesday at FedExForum, falling to the Memphis Grizzlies 115-114.
Darius Garland had 24 points and 14 assists in the loss to lead the team. The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference. This marks the last meeting of the season between the teams.
After taking the only previous season meeting against Cleveland 106-101 at Chase Center in November 2022, their 15th straight head-to-head victory, Golden State will be looking for a season sweep.
Curry led the Warriors with 40 points. Donovan Mitchell had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in the losing effort. Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson, averaging 21.1 and 20.9 points per game, respectively, are leading the Warriors in scoring this season. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney is grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game, and Draymond Green is dishing 6.8 assists.
Mitchell has been the primary provider for the Cavs on offense, averaging 28.4 points per game. He has the eighth-highest scoring average in the league.
Garland is recording 8.0 assists per game, fifth-most in the league, and Jarrett Allen is pulling down 9.8 rebounds per game.The Warriors rank as one of the most explosive offenses in the NBA, fourth-best with 117.6 points per game.
The Warriors have dominated the last 10 trips to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, winning eight. Cleveland has won three straight at home this season.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are 4-5 this season when playing the second of a back-to-back and 3-5 with a rest disadvantage. The Cavaliers are 2-3 with a rest advantage.
In the last 10 games, Golden State is 5-5 with an average margin of +0.7 (121.3-120.6). Cleveland has a 6-4 record over the last 10, scoring 112.0 points per game on average while allowing 110.0 (+2.0 margin).
WARRIORS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Rebounds per game:
Draymond Green: 9.4 | 7.1 | +2.3
Assists per game:
Stephen Curry: 3.8 | 6.3 | -2.5
CAVALIERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Cedi Osman: 2.8 | 12.7 | -9.9
