In a matchup that used to be defined by Steph vs. LeBron, the latest chapter of Warriors vs. Cavaliers was stolen by an unlikely name: Pat Spencer. The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99–94 in Cleveland, powered by Spencer’s career night in his first NBA start.
A Throwback Rivalry With a Very New Face
This wasn’t a Finals rematch or a star-studded spectacle. No Steph vs. LeBron, no superteam narrative. Instead, fans in Cleveland watched something very different: a fringe guard seizing his moment on the big stage.
According to the NBA’s official game highlights, the
Warriors improved to 12–12, climbing back to .500, while the
Cavaliers dropped to 14–11 after the home loss. In a tightly contested game, neither team broke 100, and defense — not fireworks — defined the night.
But within that grind-it-out battle, Spencer became the story.
Pat Spencer’s Breakout: From First Start to Career High
In his
first NBA start,
Pat Spencer delivered a performance that would be impressive for an established rotation player, let alone someone fighting to prove he belongs.
-
19 points – a
career high-
7 assists-
4 rebounds-
3 made three-pointersSwitchyard’s game recap notes that Spencer’s 19 led the Warriors in scoring, pacing an offense that spread production across several role players rather than relying on a single star. The NBA highlight package underscores how often the ball flowed through Spencer in key moments, with timely threes and decisive drives that steadied Golden State’s half-court sets.
In his postgame media session, Spencer sounded more like a seasoned vet than a first-time starter, emphasizing ball movement, composure, and playing within the system. It didn’t feel like a fluke; it felt like a player auditioning for a permanent role.
Gui Santos, Bench Depth, and the “Next-Man-Up” Warriors
Spencer wasn’t alone in lifting Golden State.
Gui Santos added
14 points, knocking down
2-of-4 from three and giving the Warriors an energetic scoring punch. The highlight reels show Santos attacking off the dribble and finishing through contact, exactly the kind of fearless play the Warriors need from their younger core.
With Warriors lineups in flux this season and veterans in and out of the lineup, this win looked like a statement about depth:
-
Balanced scoring rather than a single dominant star
- Multiple players hitting key shots late
- Clean ball security and poise against Cleveland’s pressure
It was the kind of road win that usually belongs to a veteran group — not a patchwork rotation headlined by an unproven guard.
Donovan Mitchell Tried to Drag Cleveland Back
On the other side,
Donovan Mitchell did everything he could to keep the Cavaliers alive.
-
29 points to lead all scorers
-
7 three-pointersThe Cavs’ offense sputtered for long stretches, especially from deep, but Mitchell repeatedly bailed them out with contested threes and late-clock pull-ups. One sequence in the third and fourth quarters, highlighted in multiple clips, shows Mitchell catching fire from beyond the arc, cutting into a double-digit Warriors lead and electrifying the crowd.
Yet, despite his surge, Cleveland never fully flipped the game. Golden State responded each time with timely buckets — often from Spencer or Santos — and just enough defensive resistance to keep the Cavs chasing instead of leading.
How the Game Slipped Away From Cleveland
Looking at the flow of the game from the highlight edits and recap, a few themes stand out:
-
Slow Cavs start from three: Cleveland needed 12 attempts to hit their first triple, digging themselves an early shooting hole.
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Warriors’ control of tempo: Golden State’s guards repeatedly got into the lane, collapsed the defense, and created easier looks, keeping the Cavs reactive.
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Key late-game execution: When Cleveland threatened in the fourth — fueled by Mitchell’s hot shooting — the Warriors answered with composed half-court sets and efficient shot-making.
Switchyard’s breakdown emphasizes that this was not a blowout, but a classic “winning on the margins” game: extra passes, smart rotations, and better late-game decision-making tilted it toward Golden State.
Why This Matchup Still Matters, Even Without the Old Stars
The words
Warriors vs. Cavaliers still carry weight because of their Finals history, but this particular meeting felt like a snapshot of where both franchises are now.
- For
Golden State, it was about
retooling on the fly, leaning on players like Spencer and Santos to keep the season alive while the organization recalibrates around aging stars. A performance like Spencer’s gives the front office and coaching staff something real to build on.
- For
Cleveland, it was a reminder that
reliance on Donovan Mitchell’s shot-making has limits. When role players and the supporting cast don’t consistently hit shots, even a near-30-point night with seven threes isn’t enough.
In a league that’s always searching for the “next” star, nights like this can become pivot points. If Spencer strings together more games like this, we may look back and say:
this was the night his narrative changed.
What’s Next for Both Teams
This result nudges the broader storylines forward:
-
Warriors (12–12): Back to .500, with a renewed sense that their
bench and fringe rotation guys can win real games on the road. Expect Spencer to earn more minutes and possibly more starts as Golden State tests just how sustainable his impact is.
-
Cavaliers (14–11): Still comfortably in the playoff mix, but this loss spotlights questions about
offensive balance and how often Mitchell has to put on the cape just to keep them close. Look for Cleveland to tinker with lineups and offensive sets to reduce that burden.
If the old Warriors–Cavs era was about superstar legacies, this new one might be about
who discovers and develops the next wave of difference-makers first.
Sources
1. WARRIORS at CAVALIERS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS - YouTube
2. Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Full Game Highlights
3. Pat Spencer Recaps Warriors Win In Cleveland | Dec. 6, 2025
4. Warriors 99-94 Cavaliers (7 Dec, 2025) Final Score - Switchyard
