Warriors Give Up Early 18 Point Lead In Loss To Cavaliers
OAKLAND (CBS / AP) -- Spencer Hawes had 22 points and 13 rebounds to help the Cleveland Cavaliers erase an 18-point first-half deficit on the way to a 103-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
Dion Waiters added 18 points and Luol Deng and Kyrie Irving had 16 apiece for the Cavaliers, who overcame a slow start to take the game over in the final three quarters and snap a six-game losing streak against the Warriors.
Stephen Curry scored 27 points on his 26th birthday and Draymond Green added 18 but it wasn't enough to prevent another bad home loss by the Warriors, who were without starting guard Klay Thompson. He was in the Bahamas for his grandfather's funeral.
Golden State had won five straight at home following a 4-6 stretch in January and February that included losses to lesser teams like Denver, Minnesota, Washington and Charlotte.
This game didn't look like it would follow that pattern the way it started with Golden State taking a 16-point lead less than 6 minutes into the game.
But the Cavaliers got back into it in the second quarter and broke it open after Curry hit back-to-back 3-pointers that put Golden State up 62-58 midway through the third.
But Cleveland ended the quarter on a 13-3 run that included two 3-pointers from Irving to take an 84-71 lead heading into the fourth -- a stunning 29-point turnaround in the middle two quarters.
But Irving scored seven points in the fourth quarter, including a long 3-pointer that made it 95-80 with less than 6 minutes to play to keep the Cavs in control.
The Warriors got off to a fast start with David Lee scoring nine of the game's first 13 points and Golden State going up 20-4 following back-to-back 3-pointers by Andre Iguodala midway through the quarter.
The lead grew to 36-18 early in the second before the Cavaliers erased it to the shock of the home crowd. Matthew Dellavedova, who starred in college at nearby Saint Mary's, made a pair of 3-pointers and assisted on another by Waiters as part of a 13-0 spurt.
The run extended to 23-2 as Waiters came from out of bounds to steal a ball from Andrew Bogut and laid it in and then hit a 3-pointer the next time down. Bogut was called for a technical foul after that shot and Jarrett Jack's free throw have the Cavaliers a 41-38 lead.
Harrison Barnes put Golden State back in front with consecutive baskets and Golden State led 53-52 at the half.
NOTES: Cleveland G Jarrett Jack got a warm ovation in pregame introductions in his first game here since leaving as a free agent last summer. ... Golden State C Jermaine O'Neal played his 1,000th career game. Thompson had played 214 consecutive games played -- longest in team history to start a career. He is expected back Sunday in Portland barring any travel problems. ... Cavaliers G C.J. Miles missed the game with a sprained left ankle.
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