SAN FRANCISCO – The Cavs, riding a six-game winning streak and boasting an NBA-best 27-4 record, face the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at Chase Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern Time and marks the second contest in a four-game road trip for Cleveland, which easily handled the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

Monday’s game is a homecoming of sorts for Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson. After spending three seasons as an assistant under Steve Kerr, Atkinson returns to the Bay Area to lead a Cavs team that has taken the league by storm with its offensive efficiency and defensive prowess. While Atkinson has brought elements of Golden State’s high-movement offense to Cleveland, the pleasantries end at the opening tip as both teams look for an outright win.

The Cavaliers have stood out from the pack with a historically efficient offense, ranking first in field goal percentage (50.6%), 3-point percentage (40.9%), effective field goal percentage percentage (59.7%) and the true shooting percentage (62.4%). and offensive rating (121.7). They also rank second in net rating (plus 11.4) and team points per game (122.7). Their offensive production, powered by their core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, has overwhelmed their opponents during their current series.

In their last game against the Warriors on November 8, Cleveland set the tone early, scoring 83 points in the first half to take a 41-point halftime lead. The Cavs’ relentless ball movement rattled Golden State’s defense while Cleveland’s offense was executed with precision. Every pass seemed to lead to a game-changing jumper or a well-timed cut to the rim. On Monday it will be crucial to repeat this performance.

The Warriors (16-15) have struggled to find consistency, winning just three of their last 10 games. However, a hard-fought win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday offered a glimmer of hope. Stephen Curry remains the centerpiece of Golden State’s offense, but Cleveland’s defensive schemes have proven effective against him in the past.

In their November meeting, Cleveland held Curry to 12 points, including just 1 of 4 from long range. Much of that success was due to Isaac Okoro and Garland, whose physicality and speed at the point of attack limited Curry’s rhythm. With Okoro out with a right shoulder AC joint sprain, the Cavs will once again rely on Garland, who held Curry to just three points (1 of 3 from the field) in 4.5 minutes of matchup data, according to NBA.com . However, Cleveland will also utilize its team-based principles. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley provide formidable interior defense, while wings like Caris LeVert and Max Strus must attack to disrupt Golden State’s movement offense.

The fight on the border will be decisive. The Cavs’ shifting defense aims to neutralize Curry’s off-ball movement and the Warriors’ penchant for 3-pointers. On the other hand, Cleveland’s ability to create open looks through Garland’s playmaking and Mitchell’s scoring versatility will test Golden State’s defensive rotations.

Atkinson values ​​speed and unselfishness, and the Cavs’ season-high 40 assists in their last game against Denver reflects those values. The Cavs will look to exploit the Warriors’ defensive lapses by maintaining their sharp execution.

Expect a chess match between two coaches who are intimately familiar with each other’s tendencies. While Atkinson and Kerr share a mutual respect, their focus will be unique: securing a decisive victory in the heat of competition.