Warriors notebook: Bench comes up big in blowout win over Cavaliers

OAKLAND - When Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are running the court and swishing baskets, the Warriors are hard to beat. When some of the bench guys get involved? Look out.

There were plenty of heroes in Golden State’s 126-91 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Oracle Arena, and not all of them were starters. Veterans David West and Javale McGee made an impact inside. Even bigger were the efforts of Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, who combined for 27 points, six assists and five rebounds.

“I think against this team Shaun and Andre are the X factors,” Draymond Green said. “When they play good and they come out aggressive, we’re tough to beat.”

Iguodala had a rare turnover, snapping a streak of five games without giving the ball away.

NO FLY ZONE

When the Warriors declined to retain center Andrew Bogut in the offseason, some analysts wondered whether they would be too soft inside without the 7-foot Australian center. They may indeed miss Bogut, but the rim protection has been more than solid without him. In fact, the Warriors lead the NBA in blocked shots, averaging just over 6 per game.

Monday, Golden State blocked 11 of the Cavaliers’ attempts. Green led the way with five, but Durant had the most celebrated, stuffing LeBron James early in the third quarter.

“When you run teams off the 3-point line and kind of rotate around the perimeter, you need that kind of presence from time to time to stop those drives,” Stephen Curry said. “… There’s been a lot of talk about our rim protection with the new roster and all that. But we do it, just in a different way.”