Cavalanche Strikes Again: Cavs Dominate Warriors in Stunning Third Quarter Run

The Cleveland Cavaliers are inevitable.

Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen celebrate after a foul is called on the Warriors.

Dec 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) react after a foul is called against a Golden State Warriors player during the third quarter at Chase Center.

John Hefti/Imagn Images

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The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to prove why they’re one of the NBA’s most formidable teams, showcasing their explosive potential in a 113-95 victory over the Golden State Warriors. This win, which pushed the Cavs’ record to an impressive 28-4, was highlighted by yet another “Cavalanche” – a term we’ve coined for the team’s ability to unleash devastating scoring runs that leave opponents shell-shocked.

Monday night’s game was a tale of two halves. The first half was a gritty, defensive struggle with both teams struggling to find their rhythm offensively. The Warriors did an admirable job of disrupting the Cavs’ flow, limiting our ability to penetrate and create easy scoring opportunities.

However, everything changed in the third quarter. What began as a tight contest quickly transformed into a Cavaliers showcase. In a blistering three-minute span, we outscored the Warriors 21-3, turning a five-point lead into an insurmountable 23-point advantage. This run was fueled by an incredible shooting display, with six of seven possessions resulting in three-pointers.

Donovan Mitchell was the catalyst for this explosion, draining four triples during this stretch. His ability to take over games in short bursts is a luxury for our team, allowing him to impact the outcome without having to shoulder the entire offensive load for 48 minutes.

This win wasn’t just about offense, though. Our defense held the Warriors to just 11 points in the second quarter, setting the stage for our second-half surge. While Evan Mobley had an off night, Jarrett Allen stepped up admirably, contributing 12 points and 9 rebounds in limited minutes due to foul trouble.

Darius Garland continued his All-Star caliber season with a stellar 25-point, 8-assist performance without a single turnover. His growth as a floor general and scorer has been crucial to our success this year.

The depth of our roster was on full display, with players like Dean Wade and Ty Jerome making significant contributions. Wade’s 13 rebounds were crucial in a game where we needed to limit Golden State’s second-chance opportunities.

For more insights and a deeper dive into the Cavs’ dominant performance, tune into the Locked On Cavs podcast for this and much more.

Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Cavs Podcast:

• The importance of Dean Wade’s versatility

• Ty Jerome’s revenge game against his former team

• Preview of upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers

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