OAKLAND – After dropping two games in Los Angeles two weeks ago, the Warriors returned home hoping to rediscover their rhythm.
Mission accomplished.
The Warriors on Friday completed a sweep of their six-game homestand, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-94 before the 99th consecutive sellout crowd at Oracle Arena.
In addition to winning their sixth straight game, the Warriors (29-5) extended their home win streak to 14 and raised their record to 12-0 against Eastern Conference teams.
All five Warriors starters scored in double figures, led by 24 points from Klay Thompson. Stephen Curry had 23 points and 10 assists, while Marreese Speights 12, Harrison Barnes 11 and Draymond Green 10, while also leading the team with 11 rebounds.
Justin Holiday came off the bench for 14 points in 18 minutes.
The Cavaliers (19-18), without LeBron James (sore left knee, low back strain), beat the Warriors inside, winning the rebounding battle (45-44) and outscoring the Warriors 18-10 on second-chance points.
The home team, however, crushed Cleveland 36-3 on fast-break points.
The game featured the return to Oracle of former coach Mark Jackson, who was working as an analyst on a national broadcast. Upon his image being shown on the big screen above the court, Jackson received a standing ovation.
[POOLE: Mark Jackson returns to Oracle Arena]
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Thompson was torrid, scoring 22 points in 24 minutes before he was derailed in the third quarter by a cut on his forehead. He returned seven stitches later to add another bucket.
Green submitted another terrific all-around effort, adding eight assists and three blocks to his points and rebounds total.
TURNING POINT
Trailing 66-64 with 6:39 left in the third quarter, the Warriors went on an 11-0 run, taking a 75-66 lead on a Barnes' slam off a lob from Green with 4:33 left in the quarter.
With the Warriors up 71-66, the Cavs called timeout hoping to slow the rally. It didn't work. The Warriors added 4 more points before Cleveland retaliated.
The Warriors led the rest of the way, the Cavs getting no closer than five (93-88) with 5:53 left to play.
INJURY UPDATE
C Festus Ezeli (sprained left ankle) remains out indefinitely.
"He's not anywhere close to playing in the next day or two," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Ezeli. "He hasn't practiced. He just hasn't been on the court. Until he's on the court for a couple days, I really don't consider when he'll play in a game."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Warriors will take Saturday off, returning to practice on Sunday. They return to action Tuesday against the Jazz in Utah.
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