© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
This was the NBA’s best rivalry not long ago. Now, it’s one of the most lopsided matchups on paper.
That held true Friday night, as the Warriors overwhelmed the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers early and held off a late surge to escape with a 120-114 win.
Here are three takeaways from Golden State’s fourth straight win.
Another fast start
More than two weeks ago, the Warriors suffered one of their worst losses during the current five-year run to one of the NBA’s worst teams. The visiting Dallas Mavericks beat the Warriors by 35, and it was oddly lopsided from the start, with Dallas outscoring Golden State 37-22 in the first quarter. After the game, Draymond Green admitted it’s hard to get up for games against bottom-tier teams.
The Warriors have ever since.
In first quarters particularly, they have started games with better focus. On Thursday, they outscored the depleted Lakers by 27 points in the first quarter. On Friday, they outscored the Cavs, 36-26, after the first 12 minutes. In the Warriors’ last four first quarters, they outscored opponents, 140-99.
The Warriors were assertive from the tip Friday. Green started the game with two made threes in the opening minute. He didn’t hesitate on either, a sign that his jumper is feeling more and more natural. On Thursday, the Lakers gave him open perimeter shots all night, which will likely continue in the playoffs.
Stephen Curry’s 40-point night started with a bang. He poured in 18 first-quarter points and made all four three-point attempts. He tortured Cavs rookie point guard Colin Sexton defensively all night. Curry drew two fouls on three-point attempts in the opening quarter, one of which he made in the process.
The rest of the Warriors offense, with Andrew Bogut starting in DeMarcus Cousins’ place, hummed as you’d expect. Kevin Durant continued his efficient season with a 15-point performance on 7-14 shooting. Interestingly, he did not attempt a free throw. Green registered a season-high 20 points. The bench contributed nicely.
The Warriors defense lacked crispness throughout the second half, which enabled a late Cleveland surge. The Cavs overcame a 22-point deficit to cut the Golden State lead to three with fewer than two minutes remaining.
But a Curry three-pointer extended Golden State’s lead to six, effectively ending the game. The Warriors were able to escape largely due to the lead they built from a strong start.
With the Nuggets beating the Trailblazers Friday, the Warriors must win one more game to clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference.
Curry climbs scoring list
On Tuesday, Curry passed Warriors legend Chris Mullin at fourth-all time on the franchise’s scoring list. Curry didn’t even realize it until the video board displayed a graphic of the accomplishment.
He wouldn’t have to wait long to move up another spot.
With his 27th point Friday night, Curry passed Paul Arizin (16,266) for third place on the Warriors’ all-time scoring list. The bucket was fitting — Curry pulled up from well beyond the three-point line, a few seconds into the shot clock, and drilled the shot over two Cavs.
Curry will likely pass Rick Barry sometime in the coming weeks. Barry is 164 points ahead of Curry for second all-time in Warriors history. Curry will have to wait a while, however, to pass Wilt Chamberlain’s top mark of 17,783 points.
With exception to his seven-point game Thursday, Curry has been particularly good recently. In the nine games prior to Thursday, he drilled more than six threes per game on average on a 48.7-percent clip. He made at least five threes in all of those games.
Curry rediscovered his stroke Friday, connecting on nine of 12 three-point tries.
Warriors bench continues solid streak
The Warriors entered Friday averaging the second-fewest bench points in the NBA, with 29.3 points per game. This isn’t surprising, considering they start five perennial All-Stars. But a terrific bench has been a staple throughout Golden State’s ongoing run. At some point in the playoffs, a bench player will have to hit big shots or execute key defensive assignments in a crucial situation.
The positive news for the Warriors: their bench production is improving at the right time.
Last Sunday, the Warriors reserves combined for 49 points. On Tuesday, in a meaningful game against the Denver Nuggets, 31 points. On Thursday, 46 points.
Without Andre Iguodala, who took Friday’s game off to rest, the Warriors bench produced nicely again Friday, making 11 of 17 field goal attempts collectively. Quinn Cook — coming off an 18-point game Thursday and a 21-point game last Sunday — paced the backup unit with 14 points.
The Warriors reserves contributed sporadically. Jordan Bell started the second quarter and made a mid-range jumper on his first offensive possession. Jonas Jerebko drilled a corner three in the third quarter. Kevon Looney made a couple layups.
These are positive signs as the playoffs near.