Kerr hails Spencer as Warriors stun Cavaliers without stars
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CLEVELAND — A depleted Golden State roster leaned on two-way guard Pat Spencer to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 99–94 on Saturday night, handing the Warriors a road victory despite resting five marquee players.
Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton sat out with minor injuries, leaving head coach Steve Kerr to give the 29-year-old Spencer his first NBA start. The former college lacrosse standout delivered 19 points, drilling consecutive fourth-quarter three-pointers and sinking two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining to secure the win. After the first free throw, Spencer waved to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd, effectively sealing the result.
“His coach realized that Pat is that motherf—er,” Kerr said, referencing Spencer’s now-viral celebration from two nights earlier in Philadelphia, when the guard shouted the same phrase after a late three against the 76ers. The outburst turned into a running joke within the Warriors’ locker room, with Butler theatrically clearing a path for Spencer before Saturday’s game and announcing, “the star is coming through.”
Golden State entered the night as an 8.5-point underdog. Cleveland, playing the second half of its own back-to-back, started Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland but struggled offensively, hitting only three of 21 three-point attempts in the first half. The two teams combined for 30 points in the opening quarter.
The Cavaliers trimmed a double-digit deficit to 82–77 with seven minutes left, but Spencer responded with back-to-back threes, restoring an 11-point cushion and reigniting his dialogue with the crowd. Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson credited Golden State’s energy, noting that cold shooting can be “deflating.”
Spencer’s emergence followed a difficult finish in Philadelphia, where he committed a late turnover as the Warriors squandered a five-point lead in the final minute. Kerr labeled that defeat a “gut punch” that dropped the club to 11-12. Saturday’s win moved the Warriors back to .500 at 12-12.
Undrafted out of Loyola University Maryland, where he became Division I’s all-time assists leader in lacrosse, Spencer shifted to basketball during a graduate year at Northwestern and eventually latched on with Golden State’s G League affiliate. After appearing on last season’s playoff roster, he re-signed on a two-way deal and has now posted 17, 16 and 19 points in his last three outings while filling in for Curry.
“He’s really improved his jump shot,” Kerr said. “Last year he’d turn down a lot of threes and shoot floaters. He’s never going to be Steph, but he’s a threat out there.”
Green, Butler, Horford and Melton are expected to return for Sunday’s game in Chicago. Curry is targeting next Friday’s home matchup with Minnesota after recovering from a thigh contusion.
Source: ESPN
