Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr highlighted his team’s composure and defensive effort after Saturday’s 99-94 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Despite missing stars Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford, Kerr praised his squad for executing “good two-way basketball” and responding well following recent tough losses.
Kerr noted the Warriors’ defensive discipline, especially in transition, as a key factor in the win. “They are so fast in transition. They get the ball down the floor and I thought we took that away,” he said, adding that the team battled hard on the offensive glass despite Cleveland’s second-chance points.
The coach also spotlighted Pat Spencer’s playmaking, calling him “a pick-and-roll threat” who generates quality possessions. Spencer, making his first start, recorded a career-high 19 points and seven assists, helping the Warriors establish offensive rhythm. Kerr emphasized Spencer’s improved jump shot as a major factor in his growth, noting that “the shot quality now that we’re getting with him on the floor is way better than it was the last couple years.”
Kerr described the team celebration as a recognition of collective effort. “It was just such a great team effort. We had so many guys who came in and chipped in,” he said, highlighting the contributions of Buddy Hield, Gui Santos, and Quinton Post alongside Spencer.
On the development of younger players, Kerr cited Trayce Jackson-Davis, who played with energy and focus. “You could feel his energy out there the way he ran the floor, patrolled the paint. Really fun to see Trayce have a night like that,” Kerr said, emphasizing the importance of letting young talent find their roles.
Regarding veteran players struggling to regain form, Kerr emphasized team-first accountability. “We’ve got 15 guys on this team and every player goes through ups and downs all year…some nights are yours, some nights aren’t,” he explained, underscoring the Warriors’ depth and adaptability.
The Warriors overcame a slow start, shooting just 4 of 23 in the first quarter, before building a 14-point lead in the second half. Cleveland rallied late, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 16 in the fourth, but Golden State held on as Mitchell missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining.
Kerr concluded by noting that wins like this galvanize the team and build momentum. “Everybody feels good. You move on to the next one, you try to go get another one, and this is how you build momentum,” he said, signaling optimism for the Warriors’ lineup moving forward.
