Warriors instant analysis: Golden State's reinforcements not enough to beat Cavs

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on Apr 3, 2026

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SAN FRANCISCO – The entire focus of Thursday’s pregame news conference and warmups at Chase Center was the status of one Steph Curry, who has missed the past 27 games with a sore knee.

While their superstar’s return is still at least a few days away, Warriors received a host of reinforcements after having only nine healthy bodies the day before. It helped the Warriors stay competitive, but was ultimately not enough to win as Golden State lost 118-111 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

De’Anthony Melton, sporting a white thumb wrap on his left hand, was active. So were Gui Santos (pelvis), Gary Payton and Kristaps Porzingis.

Those additional pieces were not enough to triumph, as Curry remained out with runner’s knee and relegated to shooting a few practice layups during timeouts.

Santos put up 25 points, Brandin Podziemski scored 23 and Porzingis added 16. Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points and James Harden scored 17 for the Cavaliers.

The Warriors trailed 110-107 after Podziemski made a lefty layup with a little under two minutes remaining, but Draymond Green missed the ensuing three-pointer that would have tied the game. Max Strus answered with a triple as the shot clock expired with a minute left to push the Cavs lead back to six.

Even with their superstar inactive, the Warriors still pushed the Cavs. The Warriors trailed only 54-47 at halftime and actually tied the game early in the third after a 7-0 run. Golden State stayed close throughout and trailed 84-80 after three quarters.

After a sequence that saw the Cavaliers get called for a flagrant and two technical fouls, Podziemski buried a deep three-pointer and Santos finished a reverse layup to lead 98-94 with eight minutes remaining. Th Warriors kept the game close, but were unable to keep the Cavaliers offense down the stretch as the losing skid hit three games.

The Warriors (36-41) will play host to the Houston Rockets on Easter Sunday, and Curry could be available if his knee reacts favorably to Thursday’s scrimmage.

Schroder and Green get into it

With 9:28 left in the fourth quarter, former Warrior Dennis Schroder flying side-kicked LJ Cryer on a drive, which led to Draymond Green shoving Schroder away when Green went to help Cryer up.

Schroder was called for a flagrant after a review, and Green was called for his 11th technical foul of the season. Green and Schroder had been jawing back and forth with each other throughout the game.

Melton ends drought

After missing his first four baskets against the Cavaliers, it appeared as if De’Anthony Melton’s basket-less drought would extend to six quarters.

He was 0 of 5 against Denver, and then missed the next two games. The basketless run finally ended with two minutes left in the first half, when he picked off a Cavalier pass and rolled in for an easy basket.

Melton almost made it two in a row after he broke free on the next possession. But instead of an uncontested fastbreak layup, he was stuffed at the rim by Mitchell. He finished the game just 2 of 12.

Butler and Moody’s morale

Although both of the Warriors’ starting forwards have seen their seasons cut short with devastating knee injuries, Kerr said Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler are both doing well.

Moody recently underwent surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, and now faces a year-long recovery.

“Moses is in a good space,” Kerr said, “he said the surgery went well, and he’s in good spirits.”

Butler was lost for the season in January with a torn ACL in his right knee. He briefly joined the Warriors in mid-March when they played in Washington DC.

“We’ve texted periodically the last couple of months, and he’s said he’s going to be back,” Kerr said. “His spirits are up and very positive.”