Pat Spencer scores career-high 19 in first NBA start as Warriors beat Cavaliers 99-94

CLEVELAND (AP) — Pat Spencer scored a career-high 19 points in his first NBA start and the Golden State Warriors shook off an awful-shooting first quarter to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-94 Saturday night.

It was the third consecutive game the third-year guard has scored at least 15. His three 3-pointers were a career high.

Gui Santos added 14 points, Buddy Hield scored 13 in his first start of the season and Quinton Post had 12. The short-handed Warriors have won three of four, despite missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley scored 18 and Darius Garland 17. The Cavaliers, who were missing Jarrett Allen and Lonzo Ball, have dropped five of seven.

The Warriors shot 4 of 23 in the opening 12 minutes, tied for second-worst shooting quarter in the league this season, and trailed 18-12. They were 29 of 63 the rest of the way.

The Cavaliers shot a season-worst 34.6% from the field, going 37 of 107. They were 10 of 42 on 3-pointers, with the 23.6% shooting rate also a season low.

Golden State had a 14-point lead in the third quarter and was up 72-62 going into the fourth before Cleveland made a late comeback.

The Cavs went on a 15-5 run to get within 96-94 with 11 seconds remaining. Santos made his first free throw, but missed his second. Cleveland called time, but Mitchell missed what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left.

Spencer then made both of his foul shots to put it out of reach.

The Cavs were up 23-14 before the Warriors went on a 27-8 run during a nearly seven-minute span in the second quarter. Golden State was 8 of 10 from field, including five 3-pointers and had eight players score during the run. Cleveland shot 3 of 27.

Warriors: At Chicago on Sunday.

Cavaliers: At Washington on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson applauds his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Cleveland, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland, left, keeps the ball from Golden State Warriors' Gary Payton II, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga, right, drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Jaylon Tyson, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell (45) keeps the ball from Golden State Warriors' Buddy Hield, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Golden State Warriors' Pat Spencer (61) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers' Craig Porter Jr., rear, and Thomas Bryant defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

BOSTON (AP) — Morgan Geekie scored his 22nd goal, Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves and the Boston Bruins beat New Jersey 4-1 on Saturday night, sending the Devils to their season-high fifth straight loss.

Fraser Minten, Casey Mittelstadt and Andrew Peeke also scored for Boston, and Elias Lindholm set up Geekie's score early in the second period. Geekie has the second-most goals in the league, trailing Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon by two.

The Bruins were without star winger David Pastrnak, who was sidelined for the fifth straight game with an undisclosed injury.

Timo Meier scored for New Jersey and Jake Allen stopped 17 shots.

Pulled after giving up five goals in a loss at Detroit in his previous start, Swayman made a 2-1 lead after two periods hold up despite the Bruins getting outshot 30-21.

Boston ended a string of alternating wins and losses in its previous seven games by winning its second straight.

Swayman cut from his right to left, making a pad save on Connor Brown’s close bid with just under five minutes left in the third period.

The Bruins had just nine shots on goal through two periods but led 2-1 after Lindholm stole a clearing attempt, turned and sent a cross-ice pass to Geekie, who one-timed a shot from the left circle 72 seconds into the period.

Geekie extended his point streak to five games (five goals, four assists).

Mittelstadt scored with 3:35 left in the game and Peeke added an empty-netter.

Minten one-timed a shot inside the far post from the right circle, making it 1-0 at 17:42 of the opening period.

Shut out in their previous two games, the Devils tied it under a minute later when Meier collected a loose puck in the slot and slipped it past Swayman.

Devils: At Ottawa on Tuesday.

Bruins: Open a three-game trip Tuesday at St. Louis.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Boston Bruins center Casey Mittelstadt (11) and New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) crash into the boards in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New Jersey Devils right wing Timo Meier (28) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen tries to defend as a shot by Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten flies into the net for a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) deflects the puck as New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) is unable to score as defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (45) looks on in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)