Want more ways to catch up on the latest in Bay Area sports? Sign up for theSection 415 email newsletter hereand subscribe to the Section 415 podcastwherever you listen.
CLEVELAND — The Warriors haven’t had a postgame locker-room scene like they did Saturday night in weeks.
Hooting and hollering, veterans hyping up the young guys who just pulled off a shocking upset, jokes and curses flying.
ADVERTISEMENT
The moment called for it.
Steph Curry was home, rehabbing his bruised quad two timezones away. Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green were in street clothes. De’Anthony Melton, Al Horford, and Seth Curry were all ruled out for the front end of a back-to-back.
Yet the Warriors’ (12-12) reserves stymied the Cavaliers, suffocating Cleveland with an inspired defensive effort, converting clutch foul shots and holding on for a 99-94 victory. Pat Spencer, in his first career start, continued his Linsanity-lite run with 19 points, seven assists, and one turnover in 29 minutes.
Some of Spencer’s lacrosse teammates used to call him, “Patty Ice.” He might’ve earned himself a new nickname against the Cavs.
“Pat is that motherf—,” Gui Santos said postgame.
The reason Santos tabbed Spencer with the invective is because it came out of Spencer’s mouth first. Two nights ago, in Philadelphia, Spencer drained a late 3-pointer and, in a fit of blacked-out hype, screamed, “I’m that motherf—” to the Sixers crowd.
The Warriors ended up losing that game, a heartbreaking gut punch that sunk them below .500 for the first time this season. Although Golden State made a spirited comeback, it was the team’s sixth loss in its past eight games.
Golden State really, really needed a win like Saturday’s. Spencer helped deliver it. And the same expletive-laden phrase may or may not have escaped his mouth after one of his two massive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Listen toSection 415
1 day ago
A young man in a green striped polo shirt holds a microphone, speaking in front of a blurred background with stadium seats.
4 days ago
Two men wearing glasses, one in a gray hoodie and the other in a red blazer, smile and converse closely in a stadium setting.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
A hockey player wearing a teal San Jose Sharks jersey with an "A" and number 71 stands on ice holding a hockey stick.
What he definitely did was flash the money sign with both hands after a jumper. He also definitely waved the Cavaliers fans goodbye in their arena.
Spencer’s play, and his spirit, is a galvanizing force for the Warriors in a time of need for one.
Spencer’s improved jump shot and tweaked role — he now orchestrates more offense, especially out of the pick-and-roll, instead of being a pure energizer bunny — has allowed him to flourish when Steve Kerr calls his number. But that’s not all.
“I think the other thing is his coach realized that Pat is that motherf—,” Kerr said.
Kerr was just as pumped up as Spencer after his wing 3 put the Warriors up 11 halfway through the fourth quarter.
“It’s just fun watching a guy who has had to fight for everything, to finally get his moment and not only seize it, but grab it by the neck,” Kerr said. “This guy is a competitor. He loves the competition, he loves to play, his teammates love playing with him. It’s beautiful to watch when you see something like that happen.”
It wasn’t all Spencer, of course. Teams never win with just one player. Santos provided a major lift off the bench, scoring 14 points and closing the game in place of Jonathan Kuminga, who went 1-for-11 from the floor. Quinten Post played excellent defense in the paint, hit a pair of 3-pointers, and hauled in nine rebounds. When Post sat, Trayce Jackson-Davis put together his best game of the season; the Warriors won his minutes by 15.
But it’s clear everyone fed off Spencer’s energy. He’s the type of player to throw things in the locker room after a loss, to practically punch a wall after a missed shot. His brand of competitive fire is one of emotion, of rage.
“He misses a shot, he literally wants to kill somebody, I’m not even joking,” Jackson-Davis said. “We need that on our team. I feel like if we get more guys like him, and we get that energy, it just changes our team.”
Most of the players who missed Saturday’s game are likely to return on Sunday in Chicago. That means some of the 10 guys who logged minutes against the Cavaliers will get DNPs. Tough decisions require sacrifice and unselfishness, a lack of personal agenda and trust in the coaching staff.
It’s all easier to do after a victory.
“I think the older guys, they love when you get wins like this one,” Kerr said. “Galvanizes the group, everybody feels good, you move onto the next one, you try to go get another one. This is how you build momentum with a win like this. We’ve got to make sure we capitalize.”