San Francisco – The Warriors faltered in their final game of the year, reverting to their struggles in critical moments. A key date on the calendar, the rematch against the NBA’s top team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, marked their first and only visit to Chase Center this season.
The game also saw the return of former Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, who helped the team secure an NBA Championship in 2022 during his three-year tenure.
The Warriors’ 113-95 loss was a disappointing end to the year. In the low-scoring effort, Stephen Curry managed just 11 points, while Jonathan Kuminga contributed 18, and Moses Moody led the team with 19 points. Tracye Jackson-Davis impressed with a double-double, tallying 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Jackson-Davis set a career-high with 16 rebounds, recording his second consecutive double-double. He grabbed eight rebounds in the first quarter, another career high for rebounds in a single quarter, and tallied 12 rebounds in the first half, also a career-best.
Moses Moody scored a season-high 19 points in his return to action after missing the 12/28 game against Phoenix due to left knee injury management.
After starting the season 12-3, the Dubs have slumped to a 16-16 record, currently holding the 10th spot in the Western Conference. While there’s still time to turn things around, the hot shooting from Curry and Buddy Hield has cooled off. Compounding their troubles, the Warriors continue to struggle without reliable big men, leaving them vulnerable against teams with dominant players in the paint.
The Warriors dropped to 8-8 at home this season and have now lost four of their last five games at Chase Center. They also lost their season series with the Cavaliers, 0-2. Tonight marked the Warriors’ third consecutive loss to Cleveland; before this streak, the Warriors had won 12 straight games against the Cavaliers.
The Dubs managed just 11 points in the second quarter, their lowest-scoring output in any quarter this season. Additionally, the Warriors shot a season-low 33.3% from the field, surpassing their previous low of 35.6% on 12/19 against Memphis.
Up Next: Golden State hosts Philadelphia on Thursday, January 2 (7 p.m.) in the third contest of the current six-game homestand.
Photo by GSW/Twitter
