SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 25 points and six rebounds and Max Struth’s 3-pointer with 54 seconds left capped his 24 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 118-111 on Thursday night.
James Harden added 19 points and five assists to help the Cavaliers win for the seventh time in nine games over eight nights.
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Jay Santos and Brandin Pozzimski each scored 25 points for the Warriors, who have been without Stephen Curry for 27 consecutive games but could return as early as Sunday. It was his third 5-on-5 scrimmage in as many days to test the right knee injury that has sidelined him since Jan. 30.
Head coach Steve Kerr said Curry and Rick Celebrini, vice president of player health and performance, may decide Friday whether Curry can return against the Rockets based on how Curry feels after a day.
With 9 minutes and 28 seconds left in the game, Cleveland’s Dennis Schroder caused a serious foul on driving LJ Cryer from behind. Because his jump and kick hit the Warriors defender, the referee ruled a malicious 1 point. Draymond Green was whistled for a technical foul after he pushed Schröder while helping Clare get up from the floor.
Seven seconds later, Schroder was whistled for a technical foul, followed by Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson (former Warriors head assistant) also receiving a technical foul.
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Kristaps Porzingis, who sat out Wednesday’s 127-113 loss to the Spurs in back-to-back games, scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Warriors, while Gary Payton II, who also rested his right knee in the first game before Thursday’s game, had a career-high 12 rebounds.
Golden State also got some other reinforcements, with Santos returning from a pelvic bone injury and De’Anthony Melton returning from a sprained left thumb.
Green passed Larry Smith (6,440) for third on the Warriors’ career rebounding list.
Next
Cavaliers: Host Indiana on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Houston on Sunday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA