"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 and the two free throws that clinched the win. He waved goodbye to the Cleveland crowd after the first free throw put them 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?""
"Spencer hit a 3 with 1:12 left to put the Warriors up five over the Sixers and yelled "I'm that motherf---er" to the crowd twice 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 the arena on Saturday night and made it a show to get out of his way because "the star is coming through.""
The Warriors rested Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton and started 29-year-old Pat Spencer, a former G-League pickup and college lacrosse standout. Spencer scored 19 points in his first career start, drilling two clutch fourth-quarter 3s and sinking two late free throws that secured a 99-94 road victory. He waved to the Cleveland crowd after a decisive free throw with 4.1 seconds remaining. Steve Kerr praised Spencer's confidence after a viral celebration in Philadelphia, and teammates treated the moment as a running joke. The Warriors had lost in Philadelphia two nights earlier after a late turnover, and the Cavaliers appeared sluggish on the second night of a back-to-back.
Read at ESPN.com
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