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Pat Spencer of the Golden State Warriors reacts in front of Adem Bona of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Golden State Warriors walked into Cleveland with ten healthy bodies, no Stephen Curry, no Jimmy Butler, no Draymond Green, and the kind of expectations usually reserved for preseason tune ups. They left with a 99–94 win and a brand new chapter in the Pat Spencer story.
A career night. A road upset. And a quote from Steve Kerr that will live a long time in the Bay.
This one belonged to the guy wearing No. 61.
Warriors Find a Spark in the Most Unexpected Place
It felt like a scheduled loss. A short roster. A back-to-back. A Cavaliers team loaded with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Golden State had every reason to conserve energy for Chicago.
Instead, they threw punches.
Spencer set the tone early with pace and poise. Seven assists. One turnover. Shots he did not always make in past seasons suddenly fell clean. The Warriors defended as if their season depended on each possession, holding Cleveland under 35 percent shooting and under 24 percent from deep.
The bench played connected basketball again. The same blueprint they used in that frantic comeback attempt in Philadelphia. Only this time, the finish came gift wrapped.
Warriors Rookie Turned Closer
The fourth quarter belonged to Spencer.
Twelve of his nineteen points came when the game tightened and the crowd finally woke up. Two threes in space. A downhill burst to beat the switch. Then the moment that closed it: two perfect free throws while Cleveland fans made plenty of noise behind the basket.
He shook off the pressure with a grin.
He even brought a little theatre. After those threes, he flashed the Johnny Manziel money gesture. Later, he waved Cavs fans goodnight. Jimmy Butler stood on the sideline laughing. Curry was resting at home, knowing the team found a steady hand while he healed.
Pat Spencer got his career high in points then told Cavs fans to go home 😂
Gui Santos said it best postgame: “Pat is that motherf***er.”
Kerr did not disagree.
Gui Santos agrees: Pat Spencer is that motherf–cker 😅
Why Steve Kerr Trusts Spencer So Much
Kerr talked about the details. The organization of the offense. The way Spencer settles everyone down. How a possession feels different when he runs the pick and roll.
“He takes care of the ball. Seven assists. One turnover. He gets us into a really good rhythm,” Kerr said. “Even when we do not score, the possession feels good.”
Then came the line that spread through the locker room, then social media, then every Warriors group chat on the West Coast.
“I think the other thing is that his coach realized that Pat is that motherf***er,” Kerr said with a smile.
These are the things you cannot fake. Spencer has stepped into pressure games with a confidence that comes from a lifetime of competing at every possible level.
The Long Road That Led to This Warriors Moment
This is a 29-year-old rookie whose story reads like a movie script.
One of the greatest college lacrosse players ever. A late transition to basketball. An Exhibit 10 deal with Golden State in 2022. A year in Santa Cruz. A two-way contract. A shot that needed rebuilding. Nights in empty gyms. A belief that if you give him a few years to solve something, he will figure it out.
He said exactly that.
“It is not an overnight process,” Spencer told reporters. “Could not shoot the ball in college. Could not shoot the first couple years out. Had some coaches help me and just put the hours in. Give me a couple years. I will figure it out.”
He has. Last season: 22.7 percent from three. This season: 39.1 percent.
Spacing matters. Confidence matters. And this Warriors team, stuck in a weird mix of injuries and transition, needed someone to step forward.
They found him.
The Last Word
Golden State is still searching for continuity. They are still working through absences and growing pains. But nights like this remind you why the Warriors rarely panic. Someone always steps out of the shadows.
On this night, in Cleveland, it was Pat Spencer lighting the path. And if Kerr is right, he might keep doing it.
Because sometimes the coach says it plain. Sometimes he says it loud enough for the whole league to hear. Sometimes he just smiles and says the truth.
Pat is that guy. And the Warriors needed him.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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