Warriors lock down Cavaliers on Christmas, win 99-92

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Warriors beat the Cavaliers on Christmas, which means Cleveland will have their number in the Finals.

Right? Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The defending champion Warriors flexed their defensive might in beating the Cavs 99-92 Monday in the third consecutive meeting between the two heavyweights on Christmas.

In each of the first two Christmas games between them, the loser went on to beat the other in the Finals. Golden State is the defending champ, so you know how last year went.

Kevin Durant scored 25 points for the Warriors, but it was his block on LeBron James with 24.5 seconds left on James' drive to the hoop that rolled off James and out of bounds and all buried the Cavs.

Kevin Love paced Cleveland with 31 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, perhaps quieting the doubters who remain on the subject of whether Love's skillset translates in this rivalry.

James added 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Jae Crowder, getting his first Cavs-Warriors taste, played well with 15 points and six boards.

Draymond Green recorded his first triple double this season with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. He mocked James by having Arthur stitched to the back of his Nikes. Klay Thompson added 24 points.

Golden State played without Stephen Curry and Zaza Pachulia. The Cavs, as they have all season, played without Isaiah Thomas. All will likely be out there when the teams reconvene in Cleveland on Jan. 15.

Again, this was about the Warriors' defense. The Cavs shot a season-worst .318 from the field and committed 14 turnovers. Golden State blocked eight shots; Durant swatted away five by himself. The Cavs didn't block any shots.

Love shot 9-of-25 and James 7-of-18. Dwyane Wade, playing in his first Cavs-Warriors game, scored 13 points but was 4-of-11 shooting.

Cleveland's bench, averaging a franchise-high 40.6 points per game, finished with 21 points. Jeff Green and Kyle Korver, usually a force in tandem off the bench -- especially in the fourth quarter -- shot a combined 2-of-9 and scored three points each.

And yet, with all of that, this game was tied at 92 when James scored on a drive with 1:59 left. James lost the ball out of bounds on a dribble and then was blocked by Durant on consecutive possessions. Thompson's 3-pointer with 1:33 left put the Warriors ahead for good.

The Warriors survived 15 turnovers.

Golden State started Patrick McCaw in place of Curry and Jordan Bell instead of Zaza Pachulia, who was available to play after missing the last six games with a shoulder injury but didn't see the court.

Bell finished with eight points and six boards, and McCaw added nine points.

The Cavs' streak of scoring at least 100 points in games was stopped at 26 -- which was the longest active streak in the NBA.

The Cavs led 28-24 after a crazy first quarter in which both Durant and Draymond Green were slapped with technicals. Both were assessed for arguing. Green's came after Calderon went ballistic toward the refs after Durant shoved him with the ball after Calderon fouled him. Neither player was given a tech on that play (Durant's was earlier). Whatever Green said afterwards did the trick.

The Warriors also committed seven turnovers in the opening salvo, during which James scored nine points.

Then someone put a lid on the Cavs' hoop. They shot 3-of-24 in the second quarter. That's .125, if you're keeping track. The Warriors, who took their first lead of the game on Durant's 3 with 3:08, survived 11 first-half turnovers and took a 46-45 advantage into halftime.

James didn't take a shot in the third quarter and the Cavs were 6-of-19. Love scored 15 to keep it close. It was Warriors, 71-67, after three.

NEXT: The Cavs play at the Sacramento Kings at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

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