Cavs vs. Warriors: preview, odds, injury report, TV

SAN FRANCISCO – The Cavs, riding a six-game winning streak and boasting an NBA-best 27-4 record, face the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Monday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern, marking the second contest in a four-game road trip for Cleveland, who handled the Denver Nuggets with ease on Friday.

Monday’s game is a homecoming of sorts for Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson. After spending three seasons as an assistant under Steve Kerr, Atkinson returns to the Bay Area in charge of a Cavs team that has taken the league by storm with their offensive efficiency and defensive prowess. While Atkinson has brought elements of Golden State’s motion-heavy offense to Cleveland, the pleasantries will end at the opening tip as both teams seek a statement win.

The Cavaliers have separated themselves from the pack with a historically efficient offense, ranking first in field goal percentage (50.6%), 3-point percentage (40.9%), effective field goal percentage (59.7%), true shooting percentage (62.4%), and offensive rating (121.7). They also sit second in net rating (plus-11.4) and team points per game (122.7). Their offensive output, powered by their Core Four, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, has overwhelmed opponents during their current streak.

In their previous matchup against the Warriors on Nov. 8, Cleveland set the tone early, pouring in 83 first-half points en route to a 41-point lead at halftime. The Cavs’ relentless ball movement left Golden State’s defense scrambling, as Cleveland’s offense executed with precision. Every pass seemed to lead to a back-breaking jumper or a well-timed cut to the rim. Replicating that performance will be critical on Monday.

The Warriors (16-15) have struggled to find consistency, winning just three of their last 10 games. However, a hard-fought victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday offered a glimmer of hope. Stephen Curry remains the centerpiece of Golden State’s attack, but Cleveland’s defensive schemes have proven effective against him in the past.

In their November meeting, Cleveland held Curry to 12 points, including just 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. Much of that success was credited to Isaac Okoro and Garland, whose physicality and quickness at the point of attack limited Curry’s rhythm. With Okoro sidelined due to a right shoulder AC joint sprain, the Cavs will once again rely on Garland, who held Curry to just three points (1-of-3 from the field) in 4.5 minutes of matchup data, according to NBA.com. However, Cleveland will also utilize its team-based principles. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley anchor a formidable interior defense, while wings like Caris LeVert and Max Strus must step up to disrupt Golden State’s motion offense.

The battle at the perimeter will be pivotal. The Cavs’ switching defense aims to neutralize Curry’s off-ball movement and the Warriors’ penchant for 3-point barrages. On the other end, Cleveland’s ability to create open looks through Garland’s playmaking and Mitchell’s scoring versatility will test Golden State’s defensive rotations.

Atkinson has emphasized pace and unselfishness, and the Cavs’ season-high 40 assists in their most recent matchup against Denver reflects those values. The Cavs will look to exploit the Warriors’ defensive lapses by maintaining their sharp execution.

Expect a chess match between two coaches well-versed in each other’s tendencies. While Atkinson and Kerr share a mutual respect, their focus will be singular: securing a crucial win in the heat of competition.