Podziemski and Santos trade haymakers as Cleveland escapes in Oakland

Cleveland doesn’t run away with this one — it has to survive a furious Golden State push, then answer every punch down the stretch. The Cavaliers spend most of the night in control, building a 13-point lead at one point, but the Warriors keep climbing back into the frame behind an energetic mix of second-unit creation and timely shot-making. In the end, Cleveland gets just enough from its perimeter scoring to leave with a 118-111 road win, but this is not a comfortable finish.

The game opens with Golden State showing early fight. Down 13-22, the Warriors string together a 9-0 run to pull even, capped by Gary Payton II’s turnaround hook. That’s the kind of momentum swing that keeps the home crowd engaged, and for stretches in the first half, the Warriors are living on quick cuts, extra possessions, and hustle plays. But Cleveland keeps answering. Donovan Mitchell is steady from the start, and Jarrett Allen does work inside, carving out a 16-point, 13-rebound night while Cleveland keeps the floor balanced enough to stay ahead.

The turning point comes late in the third when Cleveland briefly reasserts control. Golden State cuts into the margin, only for the Cavaliers to trigger a 12-0 run that flips 56-57 into 56-68. The defining shot in that burst is James Harden’s step-back 27-footer, a dagger-like answer that stops the Warriors’ momentum and gets Cleveland back to its preferred pace. Even after the Warriors rally again, the Cavaliers keep landing counters. Max Strus is a major reason why — he buries six threes and keeps separating the floor every time Golden State threatens to load up on the ball.

Then the fourth quarter turns into a shot-making duel. Golden State refuses to fold, and Gui Santos becomes the surprise engine of the home comeback. He finishes with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, repeatedly attacking seams and making Cleveland pay with runners, reverses, and a huge corner three. The Warriors actually grab the lead in the middle of the fourth after a 12-0 run that starts with Santos’ driving reverse layup and brings the building to life. But Cleveland answers right back. Mitchell knifes into the paint, Podziemski keeps pressure on the rim, and Strus hits the biggest answer of the night — a 28-foot three with 54.5 seconds left that pushes the Cavs ahead 113-107 and swings the game for good.

Brandin Podziemski is outstanding in defeat, finishing with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 60% from the field. He keeps Golden State afloat late with multiple paint touches — a floating jumper at 2:21, a driving layup at 1:45, another at 0:43.8, and yet another at 0:10.6 — but Cleveland’s response scoring keeps coming. Mitchell closes with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, and his pull-up three at 4:01 briefly stabilizes the Cavs when Golden State is threatening to seize control. The final minute is less about suspense than execution: Cleveland simply makes the bigger shots and absorbs the last counterpunches.

This is the kind of win that matters in the standings and in the confidence column. Cleveland had to withstand a game featuring 16 lead changes and a home team that never let the margin get comfortable, and it did so with multiple players stepping into the spotlight. For Golden State, the positives are real — Santos and Podziemski both flashed real offensive juice, and Max Strus’ shooting kept Cleveland honest — but the Warriors still come up short in a game where their biggest lead was only four. Cleveland leaves with the result it needed, and the reminder that, when the postseason pressure rises, its shot creators can close.