Cavs miss golden chance to beat the Warriors

CLEVELAND - Klay Thompson scored a career-high 32 points and the short-handed Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-95 on Tuesday night.

The Warriors were missing three starters  -- guard Stephen Curry (ankle), center Andrew Bogut (ankle) and forward Harrison Barnes (knee). Also, Carl Landry, one of the first players off Golden State's bench, didn't play because of a shoulder injury.

Golden State, playing the finale of a four-game road trip, didn't miss a beat. The Warriors shot 54 percent and made 11 of 16 of their 3-point attempts, including their first nine from beyond the arc. Golden State took control in the second quarter and built a 16-point lead in the second half.

Thompson was 13 of 24 from the field, including 6 for 8 on 3s. Jarrett Jack, starting at point guard in place of Curry, had 26 points and 12 assists, and David Lee had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, who missed the morning shootaround because he was sick, scored 14 points on 5-for-17 shooting in 36 minutes. Irving was coming off the best week of his career when he averaged a league-best 35.7 points in three wins, was selected as a reserve to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, and was named the conference's player of the week on Monday.

Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, and Dion Waiters also scored 18 points. The Cavaliers fell short in their bid for their first four-game winning streak since late in the 2009-10 season -- LeBron James' final year with the team.
 

Curry, who leads the Warriors with a 21-point average, didn't play after twisting his right ankle Monday against Toronto. Warriors coach Mark Jackson said he doesn't know how long Curry, who has had surgery on the ankle in each of the past two offseasons, will be out.

Bogut, who returned Monday after missing 38 games with an injury to his left ankle, likely won't play in back-to-back games until after the All-Star break. Barnes, a rookie, was out with a sore left knee sustained against Toronto while Landry was sidelined with a bruised left shoulder that also occurred Monday.

Golden State raced to a 13-4 lead less than four minutes into the game. The Cavaliers regrouped and led 27-25 in the second quarter, but the Warriors regained control.

Klay Thompson hit three 3-pointers, a jump shot and a dunk to help the Warriors build a 13-point lead twice. Golden State led 55-44 and shot 59 percent, including making all six of their 3-point attempts, in the first half.

The Warriors' continued to pull away in the third quarter when Thompson hit two 3-pointers and scored 12 points. Golden State led 84-68 going into the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers, who rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat Milwaukee on Friday, cut the lead to 97-89 with about three minutes to play, but Jack hit a 3-pointer and another basket, pushing the lead to 102-89.

NOTES: G Kent Bazemore, an undrafted rookie, scored a career-high nine points for Golden State. ... Cavaliers F Alonzo Gee was scoreless in 25 minutes. ... F Luke Walton (left foot and ankle) missed his second straight game. ... G Daniel Gibson (sprained right big toe) was also out. ... Following Friday's game in Detroit, Cleveland plays seven in a row at home.