The Warriors and Cavs delivered the NBA a Christmas gift Friday with the Warriors coming away with a tough, dramatic 89-83 win over the Cavs.
It was another notch in the win column for defending champs, who are now 28-1, but it didn't look like most of their victories. Not only was that OK, it's probably a good thing.
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With the Splash Brothers having an off-night (combining for 37 points on 12 for 31 shooting), and Stephen Curry missing part of the second quarter with an ankle injury, it was the combo of Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston that kept the Warriors in the game.
Livingston provided the offense, scoring 16 points on 8 for 9 shooting, while Green did a bit of everything. Green finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks and was the best player on the floor despite the presence of Curry and LeBron James.
And when it mattered most, Curry was Curry, scoring four big points on back-to-back baskets to maintain a two-possession lead over the Cavs (19-8). A few missed James free throws later, the Warriors walked away with their 28th win despite scoring less than 100 points for just the second time this season.
Tweet of the Night:
Gregg Popovich wasn't in a giving mood after his team's 88-84 loss to the Rockets. At least the media got a little something special for having to work on the holiday.
Apparently Gregg Popovich wouldn't let the Spurs eat the post game meal. So the media took it. pic.twitter.com/xj6NHpU5Zc
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 26, 2015Stud of the Night:
Anthony Davis had a big Christmas debut with 29 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, four assists and four steals, but Chris Bosh's 30 points and 10 rebounds helped the Heat come up with a 94-88 win over the Pelicans.
Dud of the Night:
The Spurs backcourt of Tony Parker and Danny Green combined to go just 3 for 13 from the field as the Spurs fell 88-84 to the Rockets.
Looking Ahead:
Celtics (16-13) at Pistons (17-13) 7:30 p.m.: The Pistons and the Celtics are currently eighth and ninth in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and if things stay that way, the head-to-head record could be the difference between playing the Cavs in the playoffs or packing it in.