Entering Wednesday’s matchup in Cleveland, the Thunder had won 15 consecutive games (not including the NBA Cup Final, which doesn’t count toward a team’s record season record), while the Cavaliers had won 10 straight. It was the first time in NBA history that two teams had faced off with such lengthy winning streaks on the line.
In a high-level affair that featured 30 lead changes and eight ties, the Cavaliers emerged victorious in the marquee showdown, firmly staking their claim as the league’s best team, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
“I don’t know where to rank them, but they have definitely earned their record,” Thunder forward Jalen Williams said. “You don’t get to 32-4 by accident.”
As Vardon writes, several players from both teams shined throughout the game, but Cleveland center Jarrett Allen may have had the top individual performance, notching 25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block with no turnovers in 32 minutes. He shot 9-of-11 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line.
On a night in which Donovan Mitchell uncharacteristically struggled, scoring just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting, the Cavs received major contributions off the bench from Max Strus (17 points on 6-of-7 shooting) and Ty Jerome (15 points on 6-of-7 shooting), Vardon notes.
“I told everybody after the game, as a unit we don’t win this game last year,” Mitchell said. “Everybody that came in did something positive to affect the game. … That’s a team win. That’s what it’s going to take to be the team we want to be.”
Here’s more on the Cavs:
- ESPN insiders Tim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton and Brian Windhorst share their takeaways from the matchup between Cleveland and Oklahoma City, which many observers have called the best game of the 2024/25 season. The two clubs will have a rematch in OKC next week (January 16).
- After Wednesday’s victory, point guard Darius Garland said he should be an All-Star and that he’s not the only Cavalier who deserves that honor, tweets Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “I’m trying to be humble as possible,” Garland said. “But … yeah, I should be an All-Star. Yes. There should be four of us on this team that are All-Stars.” While he didn’t state it outright, Garland was referring to himself, Mitchell, Allen and Evan Mobley, who was also terrific on Wednesday (21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists).
- Garland backed up that statement by leading the Cavs to their 12th straight victory on Thursday vs. Toronto, pushing the team’s record to 33-4, Fedor writes for Cleveland.com (subscriber link). Mitchell sat out the second game of the back-to-back to rest. Garland, who turns 25 years old later this month, scored a season-high 40 points (on elite efficiency) while dishing out nine assists in the six-point win. Cleveland outscored Toronto by 18 points in his 36 minutes of action.
Cavs defeat Thunder game was not a statement game. it was absolutely a series of sentences.
Is this comment supposed to make sense?
Yes
Cavs defeating Celtics or Knicks game would be a statement game
No it would be regular season win. Cavs have beaten Boston, lost to them too. Doesn’t mean squat. Teams aren’t scheming for individuals yet like the playoffs. Boston lost to Charlotte, Detriot and magic twice in three days last season. A magic team that hadn’t made the playoffs in a very long time. Also lost to another bottom feeder I can’t remember.
I guess a “long time” is subjective but the Magic made the playoffs last season, in the same season the the Celtics last made the playoffs.
These fools don’t watch
I don’t think you watch basketball mayne
Vardon is one of the few guys from The Athletic that I will never read. His takes are awful and his pieces basic. Case in point, one team beating another team in a single game does not firmly establish anything, particularly when the latter team would be down two significant rotation pieces and play in a harder conference.
No disrespect to the Cavs, of course. I just hate that dude lol.
The Cavs are 11-0 against the West, to be fair. They’ve lost one game to Boston, a back-to-back to the Hawks (who weirdly play up against the best teams in the east), and once to a healthy Miami on the 2nd night of a B2B.
Oh, they’re a great team, don’t get me wrong. They could even be better than the Thunder. I just think making definitive statements based on one mid-January game is silly. And Vardon is always doing stuff like this.
Record wise, factoring in differentials, this was like the 16 warriors and 95 bulls both happening the same year. This was not just a regular season game. And they have another matchup so I’m curious if you’ll still believe your drivel if Cavs come up on top again.
Last night was a sloppy game from the Cavs, 2nd night of a tough back-to-back be damned. Chris Boucher should not be torching any team with playoff aspirations, not at this point in his career. Scottie Barnes almost put up a triple double with 3 steals too, ffs. Bad defense from every single player, except maybe Jarrett Allen.
Shows you how good the Cavs are, when they win when they play a poor game. Their defense was especially a step slow all night, but even their sloppy offense got the job done.
Absolutely, but you can’t count on that. I hated watching that game as a Cavs fan.
Very informative game. The Cavs showing clearly it has these two twin towers, both with unusual agility, Mobley and Allen. Thus to beat them an opponent may need to have similar height. Small ball isn’t going to work. Who has the roster, the height, the playing together, to defeat Cleveland? By the playoffs I’m hoping the Celtics.
Are those bigs staying infront of Tatum or Brown on switches when dragged away from the paint? Is Garland staying infront of anybody he switches onto in the playoffs? Especially after Boston, New York, Orlando have multiple bigger defenders work him over in a 7 game series. Cavs are good but will be judged on the playoffs.
Guess you haven’t watched this yr. They’ve been doing that on a nightly basis and Garland has stepped up.
Whenever chet returns, they will be dangerous. That’ll be the test. Don’t think Celtics can take 4 from cavs this year. Especially with everyone healthy.