With an incredible 4th quarter, Stephen Curry and the Warriors return the Cavaliers – BasketUSA

After the general demonstration against the Nets, the Warriors displayed a rather different force on the floor of Cleveland. True, Golden State played a back-to-back and diminished Cavaliers team, but for three quarters, the Cavaliers delivered a good game.

With all the absences, it was Darius Garland who took matters into his own hands and he had fun through the opposing defense all evening. Less in shape than the day before, Ricky Rubio continued to manage the tempo. Cleveland played basketball very well. In great difficulty, the best team in the NBA is then on the ropes. There are 12 minutes left and they will have to find the key to avoid a deserved defeat (81-68).

But this season, Stephen Curry is on another planet… He is the only one who manages to transform very complicated actions into harmless actions. It would be reductive to say that the Warriors reversed the situation only thanks to the double MVP, but the collective of the Californians is sublimated by the best player in the NBA. In four magic wrist strokes, he allowed his team to come back and win after winning the quarter time 36-8. The Warriors have their 13th success this season.

WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER

The last act of the Warriors. Usually, the Warriors manage to put their opponents on the ropes in the third act. But tonight, it was they who seemed to be in trouble after half-time. But whatever, as Golden State begins the 4th quarter time with Stephen Curry on the ground. And the Warriors have delivered a new masterclass. Able to change on all screens, they have stifled their opponents. In attack, they succeeded thanks to their multiple offensive options to undermine the fine defense of the Cavaliers. With a Draymond Green in playmaker and defense chief mode, Golden State pulled out the muscles and feasted all orange ball lovers. The movement of the ball and the obsession to always find the open partner got the better of the Cavaliers.

The courage of the Cavs. We say it often, but this Cleveland team has heart. Despite the absences of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman and Lauri Markkanen, the Cavaliers played eye to eye with the best team in the league. As against the Nets the day before, they showed collective bonding and ideas in the game. Ricky Rubio manages the tempo of this team well and Darius Garland at his side brings all his madness. Until the last 12 minutes of the game, they cut Stephen Curry perfectly from the rest of the team… Unfortunately, they couldn’t do anything when the “Chef” passed the overdrive.

TOPS / FLOPS

✅ Stephen Curry. Soon there will no doubt be any strong enough superlatives to describe Steph Curry’s performances. The # 30 of the Warriors is a magician and tonight he once again demonstrated. Today, there is no stronger than Stephen Curry in the game without the ball. His fourth act where he scores 20 of his 40 tonight points is a model of its kind. Constantly found by Draymond Green, he punished all opposing defensive delays. For the 40th time in his career, he scores over 9 3-points. Tonight, he finished the game with 40 points at 15/27 on shots.

✅ Draymond green. Certainly, Stephen Curry attracts the light but, in the shadows, Draymond Green has left for one of his most beautiful seasons. He is the leader of the pack. A hungry pack that does not want to give anything to the adversary. Tonight, the Cavs failed to score for 12 straight possessions in the final act and Draymond Green has a lot to do with it. However, it was offensively that he burst the screen. He did not score 40 points like Stephen Curry, but he delivered 14 assists. Caviar all over the place. His science of the game allowed him to punish all defensive responses on his point guard.

✅ Darius garland. 25 points for the leader of Cavaliers who gave headaches to his vis-à-vis. A great performance (despite 7 losses of ball) from the playmaker. Unfortunately, that was not enough to create the feat. Nonetheless, he continues to gain momentum this season. When the injured return, Cleveland has the means to fight with the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

⛔ Ricky rubio. In recent weeks, the Spaniard has shone a lot. Tonight he showed fatigue and seemed to mark the occasion physically. Well taken by the defense of the Warriors, he did not score as usual. Only 10 points at 4/15 for the Spaniard, as well as 5 assists, but also 5 losses of the ball.

THE FOLLOWING

Golden State (13-2): Golden State ends its “road trip” in Detroit tomorrow night.

Cleveland (9-8): a little rest for the Cavaliers who will be on their floor on Monday against the Nets.