The extremely anticipated matchup between the NBA’s convention leaders — the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — lived as much as the hype after which some Wednesday night time in Cleveland.
Each groups entered the sport driving double-digit win streaks, and the sport performed out like a heavyweight tilt. The rating was not often past two possessions all through, however a late Cavs run that featured clutch capturing and some large stops secured a 129-122 win for the East’s high seed.
Cleveland was capable of transfer its win streak to 11 regardless of Donovan Mitchell scoring solely 11 factors on 3-of-16 capturing. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley picked up the slack, combining for 46 factors and 22 rebounds.
The loss snapped a 15-game win streak for the Thunder, who have been within the sport till the ultimate minute regardless of foul hassle for star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and heart Isaiah Hartenstein early within the second half. Gilgeous-Alexander completed with a game-high 31 factors and 9 assists, whereas Hartenstein completed two assists shy of a triple-double with 18 factors and 11 rebounds.
The groups will meet once more Jan. 16 in Oklahoma Metropolis, however first let’s take a more in-depth have a look at tonight’s sport. What did we study every staff tonight? What ought to we be searching for within the rematch? And can we be seeing this matchup in June within the NBA Finals?
Our NBA Insiders Tim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton and Brian Windhorst break down the marquee matchup of the 2024-25 season up to now.
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Darius Garland’s dagger sends Cavs followers right into a frenzy
Cleveland followers erupt after Darius Garland’s clutch basket places the sport away vs. the Thunder.
What did we study in regards to the Cavaliers on this sport?
Bontemps: That they belong. Even after the sport, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged there have been doubts about Cleveland’s skill to win this sport, and whether or not this staff is actually pretty much as good as its file reveals. However in a sport through which Mitchell went 3-for-16, Cleveland was capable of beat an Oklahoma Metropolis staff that had gained 15 video games in a row and is seen as a real title contender. After this sport, the doubts about Cleveland being in that class ought to now not exist.
Pelton: Max Strus provides them one other playmaker. It is laborious to say the Cavaliers had missed Strus this season, given they have been already 23-4 by the point he made his season debut Dec. 20, however his 5 3-pointers and 5 assists off the bench Wednesday have been difference-making. Strus was on the court docket down the stretch, giving Cleveland a bit extra upside than with beginning small ahead Dean Wade and extra energy than with sixth man Caris LeVert.
Windhorst: There isn’t a true winner or loser on this sport. Each these groups displayed a mastery of their programs. The execution within the third quarter of this sport, which OKC gained 43-41, was maybe essentially the most technically splendid 12 minutes of midseason basketball I’ve ever witnessed. The Cavs strolling away with the win is significant, however they might admit there may be little or no area between these groups. Cleveland’s skill to run their offense and generate their normal quantity of open seems to be with their tight passing and spacing towards such an amazing protection in all probability was most rewarding for them.
What did we study in regards to the Thunder on this sport?
Bontemps: That Chet Holmgren stays this staff’s second-most-important participant. Cleveland completely dominated this sport within the paint, with Allen and Mobley going for 46 factors on 17-for-21 capturing on 2-point pictures. Hartenstein is a superb large man, however he is the one true heart apart from Holmgren within the Thunder’s core rotation. If OKC had them on the court docket collectively on this sport, it might have made the distinction.
Pelton: They will survive a stretch with out the MVP front-runner. Up one level when Gilgeous-Alexander went to the bench with 4 fouls halfway by way of the third quarter, Oklahoma Metropolis went down six at one level however rallied to tie the sport by the point Gilgeous-Alexander returned practically 5 minutes later. Regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander’s low foul price, the Thunder will seemingly face an analogous state of affairs sooner or later within the postseason and may reference this second for example of what they’ll do with out their star participant.
Windhorst: The Thunder dearly missed Holmgren on this matchup. In addition to the the Cavs’ bigs performed — Allen performed his second brillant sport up to now week, together with outplaying Anthony Davis on New Yr’s Eve — it was laborious to not image how issues can be totally different if OKC might match the Cavs double-big look. OKC is 15-2 in its previous 17 video games, together with the NBA Cup loss to Milwaukee. Dimension was an enormous consider each, and so they have the repair already on their roster.
What’s one factor we must always look ahead to in subsequent week’s rematch?
Bontemps: The chess match between Cleveland’s dominance on the glass and Oklahoma Metropolis’s typical dominance within the turnover battle. The Thunder are obsessive about profitable the possession sport, and so they often do. On this sport, each groups had 90 pictures however the Cavaliers shot an additional 10 free throws. Oklahoma Metropolis compelled 15 turnovers for 21 factors, however Cleveland compelled 19 for 21. And Cleveland’s edges in factors within the paint (60 to 54) and second-chance factors (24 to twenty) have been the distinction. The identical formulation will apply subsequent week.
Pelton: Higher protection. In apply, it is not likely true that one of the best offenses beat one of the best defenses. For the reason that 1996-97 season, top-five offenses have averaged nearly exactly the league’s common factors per possession in matchups towards top-five defenses. If we restrict that to the No. 1 offense (like Cleveland this season) towards the No. 2 protection (Oklahoma Metropolis), it is about 1% higher than common. But the Cavaliers beat their seasonlong effectivity, capturing 52% from the sector and 42% from 3, whereas the Thunder (53% from the sector, 35.5% on 3s) weren’t far behind. It is unlikely we’ll see each groups shoot so precisely in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Windhorst: I might be shocked if the Thunder allowed 129 factors on their residence court docket. The Cavs have been repeatedly capable of beat them with the “second cross,” notably as they peeled out of pick-and-rolls and beat the Oklahoma Metropolis assist protection across the rim. It led to so many deep entry passes for simple baskets or conditions through which the Thunder needed to foul. I count on they are going to be higher ready for that subsequent week.
Was this a Finals preview?
Bontemps: It may be — which is one thing I seemingly would not have stated 24 hours in the past. Cleveland confirmed a ton on this sport. Mobley confirmed he is an All-Star lock. The Cavaliers took each punch from the Thunder and threw a stronger one again. The outcome was a thirty second win in 36 video games. I wrote in regards to the comparisons between this staff and the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors forward of Wednesday. These Warriors got here out of nowhere, have been doubted all through that season and finally gained a title. I will not say Cleveland will try this proper now, however I’ll say the Cavaliers are adequate to make it to June.
Pelton: I might nonetheless wager towards it at even odds. Projections utilizing ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index give these groups the 2 finest possibilities of making the Finals and but nonetheless present this particular matchup occurring simply 35% of the time. I might decide the Boston Celtics over the Cavaliers to win the East. Though the Thunder are the clear favourite within the West, there’s lots that may occur to vary that between now and late Might.
Windhorst: I am not saying a foul phrase about both of those groups out of respect after watching that show. I am additionally not predicting the Finals in January. However I’ll give them this: There was a couple of championship staff I’ve seen over the previous twenty years that would not beat these two.
