The Cleveland Cavaliers can officially lay claim for the title of the NBA’s top team. For now.
The Cavs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday in a matchup that lived up to its billing of the best in the East meeting the best in the West. Usually, you have to wait for the NBA Finals for that kind of game.
The snapped a 15-game winning streak for the Thunder, and continued an 11-game one for Cleveland. The Cavaliers are now 32-4, and on their second double-digit winning streak of the season.
By the end of the first quarter, the Thunder were up seven. By the end of the second, the Cavaliers were up three. By the end of the third, the Cavaliers were up one, then lost the lead on the first OKC possession of the fourth. Neither team ever led by double digits, and the lead was exchanged 30 times.
The NBA’s best offense beat the NBA’s best defense, with one more scheduled matchup in a little over a week. However, it would surprise few observers if these teams played four to seven more times.
It was definitely the Cavalier’s game that was being played, with each team shooting above 50% on 90 field goal attempts. As some will note, the Thunder entered the game missing key players Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso, and they nearly made up for it with their third-best shooting performance of the season. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers’ offense ended up being a little too comfortable, with a home crowd behind them.
Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers in scoring with 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals. He benefited from the Cavaliers’ 36 assists on 47 field goals, finding the holes in an OKC defense that has squeezed the life out of most of the teams they’ve played.
The Thunder could conceivably have Holmgren and/or Caruso back in time for next Thursday’s game, but Wednesday showed you don’t need both teams to be 100% to have a good time. Even though the Thunder lost, they left the arena with little reason to think they aren’t the West’s top team.
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