Pat Spencer steps up for short-handed Dubs to power win over Cavs - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Playing on the road without their headliners, the Golden State Warriors upset the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-94 on Saturday night behind a career performance from a two-way point guard who was once a college lacrosse star.

Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton all rested with minor injuries. In Curry's place, Warriors coach Steve Kerr opted to start Pat Spencer, the 29-year-old who first showed up in the franchise's G-League program four seasons ago.

Spencer responded with 19 points in his first career start, including a pair of clutch fourth quarter 3s as well as the two free throws that clinched the win. He waved goodbye to the Cleveland crowd after the first foul shot put the Warriors up four with 4.1 seconds left.

«His coach realized that Pat is that motherf---er,» Kerr said. «That became clear. Sorry. Am I allowed to say that?»

Kerr was referencing a viral celebration from Spencer two nights prior in Philadelphia. Spencer hit a 3 with 1:12 left to put the Warriors up five over the 76ers and twice yelled «I'm that motherf---er» to the crowd after Philadelphia called timeout.

In the 48 hours that followed, Spencer's vulgar label and the attention it drew became a playful inside joke with his Warriors teammates. Butler saw Spencer on his way into Rocket Arena on Saturday night and made it a show to get out of his way because «the star is coming through.»

But the Philadelphia performance didn't come with a payoff. The Warriors blew a five-point lead in the final minute. Spencer threw away a crucial inbounds pass. Kerr called it a «gut punch» loss, dropping Golden State to 11-12 before a difficult back-to-back.

The Warriors were 8.5-point underdogs at Cleveland. The Cavaliers