END OF THE ROAD
It started with the most attended game in NBA history and has included a White House visit and a highly contested NBA Finals rematch that went into overtime, but the Warriors’ five-game road trip will come to an end on Friday when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. The road trip has been an eventful one to say the least, and the Dubs have a chance to do something they’ve yet to do this season – have a winning road trip. The Dubs have split their first four games of the trip and will wrap it up on Friday against the owners of the best home record in the Eastern Conference (19-4). This will be the Dubs’ second and final regular season matchup with the Cavs, and the Dubs won the first one, 106-101, back at home in November behind a clutch fourth quarter performance from Stephen Curry.
Warriors at Cavaliers
Friday, January 20 | Tipoff: 4:30 p.m. PT
WATCH: NBC Sports Bay Area (local), NBA League Pass (non-local)
Listen: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors Radio Network
LAST TIME OUT
Making their first visit to Boston since last year’s Championship clincher in the NBA Finals, the Warriors outplayed the Celtics for three quarters but ultimately fell 121-118 in overtime on Thursday. Stephen Curry had 29 points to lead the Dubs, who also had 20-plus points from Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, while Draymond Green finished one assist shy of a triple-double. » Full Game Recap
Golden State Warriors Highlights vs. Boston Celtics
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
| GSW | CLE |
| 22-23 | 28-18 |
| 9th in West | 5th in East |
| PTS: 117.6 (4th) | PTS: 111.6 (26th) |
| REB: 44.1 (11th) | REB: 42.6 (20th) |
| AST: 29.3 (3rd) | AST: 23.7 (14th) |
DID YOU KNOW?
The Warriors have won each of their last 11 regular season games against the Cavaliers, marking their longest active winning streak against a single opponent.
PREVIOUS GAME STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green
CLE: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: JaMychal Green (right lower leg infection) and Jonathan Kuminga (right foot sprain) are probable. Stephen Curry (left hip tightness), Draymond Green (right great toe soreness), Andre Iguodala (right hip soreness), Klay Thompson (right Achilles tendon injury management), Andrew Wiggins (left foot soreness) and James Wiseman (left ankle sprain) are out. Team Notes
CLE: Donovan Mitchell (strained left groin) is questionable. Dylan Windler (sprained right ankle) and Dean Wade (sprained left shoulder) are out. Team Notes
NEW LOOK LINEUP
On Thursday, the Warriors shortened their rotation to eight players and used a starting lineup consisting of Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. It was the first time the Dubs have used that starting five in a regular season game – that group, however, did start the series-clinching Game 5 victory over the Nuggets in the first round of last year’s NBA Playoffs. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back, and after an emotional back-and-forth battle in a NBA Finals rematch in a tough road environment no less, it’s probable that Head Coach Steve Kerr will go deeper into his bench on Friday. The Warriors reserves who did see action – Kevon Looney, Anthony Lamb and Donte DiVincenzo – combined for just 10 points on Thursday, and the Dubs will probably need more production than that if they’re to come with a winning road trip in tow.
TEAM LEADERS
| GSW | CLE |
| PTS: Curry (29.3) | PTS: Mitchell (28.4) |
| REB: Looney (8.4) | REB: Allen (9.8) |
| AST: Green (6.7) | AST: Garland (8.0) |
CLEVELAND SCOUTING REPORT
The Cavaliers have alternated wins and losses over the last two weeks and come into Friday’s matchup in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. One of the big storylines for Cleveland is the health of Donovan Mitchell. The ninth leading scorer (28.4 ppg) in the NBA this season, Mitchell missed the team’s previous game – a down-to-the wire loss to the red-hot Grizzlies – on Wednesday with a strained left groin and is questionable for Friday’s matchup. With or without Mitchell, the Cavs are a much improved and deep team this season. Darius Garland is coming off a season-high 14-assist effort on Wednesday, and he’s one of two players in the NBA this season averaging at least 20 points and eight assists while shooting at least 39 percent on 3-pointers. But it’s on defense where the Cavs are most dangerous. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen provide plenty of rim protection, as the Cavs have the second best defensive rating (allowing 109.4 points per 100 possessions) and allow the fewest amount of points per game (107.1). The Cavs have held their opponents below 100 points 14 times this season and have won 13 of those games. The Warriors faced a tough test on Thursday, and it won’t get much easier on Friday as they take on a Cavs team that has the East’s best home record.