In a stunning display of resilience, the severely short-handed Golden State Warriors secured a hard-fought 99-94 road victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, December 7, 2025 (Philippine Time). The Warriors triumphed at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, despite being without a host of their star players.
Warriors Overcome Massive Absences
The Warriors' injury report was a who's who of their roster. The team was missing the services of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford. The list of unavailable players extended to De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry, leaving the team critically depleted. Dressing only 10 active players, every single Warrior who stepped onto the court managed to score, with half of them reaching double figures in points.
Pat Spencer Seizes His Moment
With the team in desperate need of contributors, rookie Pat Spencer made history in his first career NBA start. Spencer erupted for a career-high 19 points, leading all Warriors scorers and providing the offensive spark the team needed. In his 30 minutes of action, he also contributed seven assists and four rebounds, orchestrating the offense with poise beyond his experience.
He was not alone in stepping up. Buddy Hield canned 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out three assists. Quinten Post delivered a strong all-around performance with 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Off the bench, Gui Santos provided crucial energy, scoring 15 points with three rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes of play.
Cavaliers Fall Short Despite Mitchell's Effort
On the other side, the Cleveland Cavaliers, expected to capitalize on Golden State's woes, could not close out the game. Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with a game-high 29 points. Evan Mobley added 18 points, while Darius Garland finished with 17 markers. However, their combined efforts were insufficient to overcome the Warriors' collective grit and surprising offensive output from role players.
This victory stands as a testament to the Warriors' depth and next-man-up mentality. Stealing a road game against a playoff-caliber team while missing six key rotation players, including multiple All-Stars, marks one of the most impressive regular-season wins for the franchise in recent memory. It sends a strong message to the rest of the NBA about the team's resilience and the potential lurking on the end of their bench.
