The Christmas matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers looked similar enough to last June's NBA Finals that the Eastern Conference champions could hold out some hope in a different outcome should the two teams meet again this spring. Monday's final regular season game between the teams figures to inspire significantly less optimism.
Coming off their fourth and worst loss of the season Saturday at the Detroit Pistons, the Warriors built a 13-point lead after the first quarter and added to it considerably from there, eventually winning 132-98 in a dominant blowout that registers as the Cavs' worst loss of the season.