Cavaliers 118, Warriors 111: Cleveland Finishes Strong

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 118-111 on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Chase Center, with Donovan Mitchell leading the way with 25 points in a balanced road win. Cleveland stayed in front for most of the night and answered Golden State’s third-quarter push with a steady closing stretch.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Cleveland opened with a 30-26 edge, setting the tone with efficient half-court offense and strong shot-making from the perimeter. The Cavaliers shot confidently early, while Golden State stayed within range behind active rebounding and second-chance opportunities.

Second Quarter

The Cavaliers added to their lead in the second, outscoring the Warriors 24-21 to take a 54-47 advantage into halftime. Cleveland’s ball movement stood out during this stretch, and its defense did enough to keep Golden State from building momentum from beyond the arc.

Third Quarter

Golden State made its best push after the break, winning the third quarter 33-30. Brandin Podziemski helped drive that response, and the Warriors trimmed the deficit with improved pace and more productive trips inside the arc. Even so, Cleveland entered the fourth ahead 84-80.

Fourth Quarter

The final period was competitive throughout, but Cleveland stayed composed and matched every Warriors run. The Cavaliers scored 34 points in the quarter, getting timely production from multiple players and enough stops late to hold off Golden State’s comeback effort.

Key Performers

Cleveland Cavaliers:
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 25 points and added six rebounds, finishing as the team’s top scorer in another efficient offensive night. Jarrett Allen anchored the interior with 13 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder paced the playmaking with six assists. As a team, the Cavaliers shot 51.2% from the field and 44.4% from three, key numbers in a road win.

Golden State Warriors:
Brandin Podziemski scored 25 points to lead the Warriors and kept them within striking distance during their second-half push. Gary Payton II contributed 12 rebounds, and Draymond Green handed out nine assists. Golden State finished with 46 rebounds, matching Cleveland on the glass, but shot just 27.3% from three-point range.

NerdSports Stat: Cleveland made four more three-pointers than Golden State while taking eight fewer attempts, a 12-point swing from long range that closely matched the final seven-point margin.

Game Analysis

This game turned on efficiency. Cleveland made 42 of its 82 shots and consistently created quality looks, finishing with 28 assists and a clear edge in perimeter accuracy. The Cavaliers did not dominate the rebounding battle and were not perfect at the free-throw line, but their shot profile and execution gave them control.

For Golden State, the challenge was clear: the Warriors generated enough volume with 94 field-goal attempts, but they could not convert at the same rate. Their 43.6% overall shooting and 12-for-44 mark from three left little margin for error. The Warriors had stretches of strong energy, especially in the third quarter, yet Cleveland responded each time with timely offense.

The Cavaliers also handled the road setting well. In front of a crowd of 18,064 in San Francisco, they played with balance rather than relying on one extended scoring burst. That steadiness helped them improve their road mark and maintain their position as one of the East’s stronger teams entering the final stretch of the regular season.

Closing Context

With the win, Cleveland improved to 48-29 and strengthened its standing in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Golden State dropped to 36-41, a result that adds pressure in the Western Conference race as the regular season winds down. For the Cavaliers, this was an important road result built on shooting efficiency and late-game poise.

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