Cleveland extended its winning streak to 11 games and ended Oklahoma City’s 15-game winning streak in the process.
In a high-profile matchup featuring two teams with the two best records in the NBA, the product exceeded all expectations.
the Cavaliers Their attack No. 1 was defeated thunder And their defense No. 1, 129-122in a match that witnessed 30 lead changes, eight confrontations, and high-level performances worthy of two teams aspiring to the championship.
Playing at home, the Cavaliers overcame Donovan Mitchell’s performance (11 points on 3-for-16 shooting), relying on team effort, especially offensively, raising their record to 32-4.
Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Cavaliers, and his teammate Evan Mobley added 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Max Strus scored 17 points and Ty Jerome scored 15 points off the bench to lead the Cleveland reserves to victory over Oklahoma City 43-26.
Darius Garland had 18 points and seven assists for Cleveland, which dished out 36 assists on 47 field goals, shooting 52.2% from the field and 41.7% on 3-pointers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and Jalen Williams added 25 points, nine rebounds and three steals for the Thunder. Isaiah Hartenstein had 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The two teams will meet again on January 16 in Oklahoma City.
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Cavaliers 123, Thunder 118: The game heads down to the final minutes
The first part of the fourth quarter was hectic and sloppy but that happens sometimes with two teams that are as strong offensively and defensively.
Can Donovan Mitchell snap out of his shooting slump? Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander add to his MVP-caliber resume? Who will continue his winning streak?
Following the Southern California wildfires, ESPN’s regular “NBA Countdown” crew featuring Malika Andrews was not on the air since their usual studio is in Los Angeles. ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi and Elle Duncan hosted the pregame show at the network’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut.
Cavaliers vs Thunder matchup odds, line
She is favored to defeat Oklahoma City Thunder During Wednesday’s regular-season game, according to BetMGM odds.
- Spread: Cavaliers (-2.5)
- Money line: Cavaliers (-140); Thunder (+115)
- Over/under: 229.5
The Cavaliers start with five
- PG, Darius Garland
- St. Germain, Donovan Mitchell
- SF, Dean Wade
- PF, Evan Mobley
- C, Garrett Allen
He fractured his right iliac flank (hip) against Golden State. In 10 games this season, Holmgren averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks and shot 50.5% from the field and 37.8% on 3-pointers.
Holmgren, the 22-year-old big man who played at Gonzaga, is expected to return this season, and the Thunder plan to provide an update on his return-to-play protocol this month.
In the game before the injury, he had 29 points on 8-for-14 shooting, five rebounds and three blocks in a win over Houston. The Thunder will welcome him back but they have excelled in his absence, going 22-3 without him.
Putting records and tapes into perspective
Cleveland and Oklahoma City are the only two teams in the NBA with at least 30 wins, and this is the second time in NBA history that two teams have had 30 wins in their first 35 games. The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks did it in the 1971-1972 season, as the Lakers beat the Bucks in the Western Conference Finals and won the title over the New York Knicks.
It is only the third time in NBA history that two teams with a winning percentage of .850 or better have met this late in the season, and it is the first time that two teams from different conferences have played with a winning percentage of .850 or better this late in the season. In season.
This match also marked the first time in the league that a team with a 15-game winning streak faced a team with a 10-game winning streak.
Cavaliers vs. Thunder all-time record
The Cavaliers and Thunder have played 123 games against each other in the regular season, with Oklahoma City leading the series 71-52. That includes the time the Thunder were known as the Seattle SuperSonics from 1970 to 2008. This is their first meeting this season. The last time they played was on November 8 of last season, where the Thunder won at home with a score of 128-120. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 43 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. The Thunder were 2-0 against the Cavaliers last season.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault at the Cavaliers game
“They’re all 1 in 82 like I always talk about, but this is great. They’re the best team in the league. It’s on their home court. They’re playing really well. Obviously we’re playing really well. So it’s a unique opportunity to compete against a great team, and we’re looking forward to it.” .
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson at the Thunder game
“That’s why you play these big games. It’s fun for the teams involved, but it’s fun for the fans — and it’s great for the NBA. Our guys are really looking forward to it, but we’re not treating it like the Finals. This is a regular season game. It’s a test. We want feedback.” We want to see where we are against the best. How does their style match up to ours? Both games against OKC will be a great, great assessment of where we are against elite teams.
Until Tuesday, January 7
- Cleveland Cavaliers 31-4
- Boston Celtics 27-10
- New York Knicks 24-13
- Orlando Magic 22-16
- Milwaukee Bucks 18-16
- Miami Heat 18-17
- Atlanta Hawks 19-18
- Indiana Pacers 19-18
- Detroit Pistons 18-18
- Chicago Bulls 17-19
- Philadelphia 76ers 14-20
- Brooklyn Nets 13-23
- Charlotte Hornets 8-27
- Toronto Raptors 8-28
- Washington Wizards 6-28
Until Tuesday, January 7th
- Oklahoma City Thunder 30-5
- Houston Rockets 24-12
- Memphis Grizzlies 24-13
- Denver Nuggets 20-15
- Dallas Mavericks 21-16
- Los Angeles Lakers 20-16
- Los Angeles Clippers 20-16
- Minnesota Timberwolves 19-17
- San Antonio Spurs 18-18
- Golden State Warriors 18-18
- Sacramento Kings 18-19
- Phoenix Suns 16-19
- Portland Trail Blazers 12-23
- Utah Jazz 9-26
- New Orleans Pelicans 7-30
Experts at the USA TODAY Network Providing predictions for next season, including which team will hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
- Jeff Zelgitt: Celtics over Thunder
- Scooby Axon: Celtics over Timberwolves
- Lorenzo Reyes: Nuggets over Knicks
- Dammichael Cole: Thunder over Celtics
- Dustin Doberak: Celtics over Nuggets
- Jim Ovcharsky: Thunder over Celtics
- Duane Rankin: Celtics over Timberwolves
- Heather Tucker: Celtics over Suns
NBA MVP candidates
Who is he this year? Shai Gilgeous Alexander,
The next player to delve into the NBA MVP conversation? Jeff Zelgitt breaks down the top candidates.
Holmgren, the 22-year-old big man who played at Gonzaga, is expected to return this season, and the Thunder plan to provide an update on his return-to-play protocol this month.
In the game before the injury, he had 29 points on 8-for-14 shooting, five rebounds and three blocks in a win over Houston. The Thunder will welcome him back but they have excelled in his absence, going 22-3 without him.
Putting records and tapes into perspective
Cleveland and Oklahoma City are the only two teams in the NBA with at least 30 wins, and this is the second time in NBA history that two teams have had 30 wins in their first 35 games. The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks did it in the 1971-1972 season, as the Lakers beat the Bucks in the Western Conference Finals and won the title over the New York Knicks.
It is only the third time in NBA history that two teams with a winning percentage of .850 or better have met this late in the season, and it is the first time that two teams from different conferences have played with a winning percentage of .850 or better this late in the season. In season.
This match also marked the first time in the league that a team with a 15-game winning streak faced a team with a 10-game winning streak.
Cavaliers vs. Thunder all-time record
The Cavaliers and Thunder have played 123 games against each other in the regular season, with Oklahoma City leading the series 71-52. That includes the time the Thunder were known as the Seattle SuperSonics from 1970 to 2008. This is their first meeting this season. The last time they played was on November 8 of last season, where the Thunder won at home with a score of 128-120. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 43 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. The Thunder were 2-0 against the Cavaliers last season.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault at the Cavaliers game
“They’re all 1 in 82 like I always talk about, but this is great. They’re the best team in the league. It’s on their home court. They’re playing really well. Obviously we’re playing really well. So it’s a unique opportunity to compete against a great team, and we’re looking forward to it.” .
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson at the Thunder game
“That’s why you play these big games. It’s fun for the teams involved, but it’s fun for the fans — and it’s great for the NBA. Our guys are really looking forward to it, but we’re not treating it like the Finals. This is a regular season game. It’s a test. We want feedback.” We want to see where we are against the best. How does their style match up to ours? Both games against OKC will be a great, great assessment of where we are against elite teams.
Until Tuesday, January 7
- Cleveland Cavaliers 31-4
- Boston Celtics 27-10
- New York Knicks 24-13
- Orlando Magic 22-16
- Milwaukee Bucks 18-16
- Miami Heat 18-17
- Atlanta Hawks 19-18
- Indiana Pacers 19-18
- Detroit Pistons 18-18
- Chicago Bulls 17-19
- Philadelphia 76ers 14-20
- Brooklyn Nets 13-23
- Charlotte Hornets 8-27
- Toronto Raptors 8-28
- Washington Wizards 6-28
Until Tuesday, January 7th
- Oklahoma City Thunder 30-5
- Houston Rockets 24-12
- Memphis Grizzlies 24-13
- Denver Nuggets 20-15
- Dallas Mavericks 21-16
- Los Angeles Lakers 20-16
- Los Angeles Clippers 20-16
- Minnesota Timberwolves 19-17
- San Antonio Spurs 18-18
- Golden State Warriors 18-18
- Sacramento Kings 18-19
- Phoenix Suns 16-19
- Portland Trail Blazers 12-23
- Utah Jazz 9-26
- New Orleans Pelicans 7-30
Experts at the USA TODAY Network Providing predictions for next season, including which team will hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
- Jeff Zelgitt: Celtics over Thunder
- Scooby Axon: Celtics over Timberwolves
- Lorenzo Reyes: Nuggets over Knicks
- Dammichael Cole: Thunder over Celtics
- Dustin Doberak: Celtics over Nuggets
- Jim Ovcharsky: Thunder over Celtics
- Duane Rankin: Celtics over Timberwolves
- Heather Tucker: Celtics over Suns
NBA MVP candidates
Who is he this year? Shai Gilgeous Alexander,
The next player to delve into the NBA MVP conversation? Jeff Zelgitt breaks down the top candidates.