NBA Insiders
Jan 8, 2025, 10:44 PM ET
The highly anticipated matchup between the NBA’s conference leaders — the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder — lived up to the hype and then some Wednesday night in Cleveland.
Both teams entered the game riding double-digit win streaks, and the game played out like a heavyweight tilt. The score was rarely beyond two possessions throughout, but a late Cavs run that featured clutch shooting and a few big stops secured a 129-122 win for the East’s top seed.
Cleveland was able to move its win streak to 11 despite Donovan Mitchell scoring only 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley picked up the slack, combining for 46 points and 22 rebounds.
The loss snapped a 15-game win streak for the Thunder, who were in the game until the final minute despite foul trouble for star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and center Isaiah Hartenstein early in the second half. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 31 points and nine assists, while Hartenstein finished two assists shy of a triple-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The teams will meet again Jan. 16 in Oklahoma City, but first let’s take a closer look at tonight’s game. What did we learn about each team tonight? What should we be looking for in the rematch? And will we be seeing this matchup in June in the NBA Finals?
Our NBA Insiders Tim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton and Brian Windhorst break down the marquee matchup of the 2024-25 season so far.
Originally Written by: NBA Insiders
