CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was billed as one of the anticipated regular-season matchups in years. A historic one.
It lived as much as that.
In what could possibly be an NBA Finals preview, the Cavs topped Oklahoma Metropolis on Wednesday, 129-122, handing the 30-win Thunder their first loss since Dec. 1. Cleveland improves its document to a league-best 32-4.
“It was a gorgeous sport,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned after the newest triumph. “I feel it had a playoff ambiance, playoff competitors, guys had been competing. I felt like there was no extracurricular stuff. It was simply pure basketball, pure competitors. I imply, clearly, whoever received, misplaced, it was only a good sport for the league and for the followers. All of us take pleasure in competitors, however to see all that expertise on the market tonight, these had been the heavy hitters of the league, and the standard of the basketball was tremendous excessive.”
- No. 1 within the East vs. No. 1 within the West.
- The highest offense (Cleveland) vs. the highest protection (Oklahoma Metropolis).
- Nos. 1 and a pair of in level differential and web ranking.
- The Thunder entered the night time on a 15-game successful streak. The Cavs had been driving a 10-game successful streak.
- The primary time ever a staff on a 15-game successful streak performed an opponent on a 10-game successful streak.
- It was additionally the primary interconference sport in NBA historical past between groups with a successful proportion of .850 or greater this late into the season.
It was a playoff-level 48-minute battle that featured 30 lead adjustments and eight ties, the whole sport performed inside single digits, inside a raucous constructing with each possession changing into valuable — the precise take a look at the Cavs have been wanting.
They handed.
Once more.
“It simply speaks to our development,” Donovan Mitchell mentioned. “I informed everyone after the sport, ‘We don’t win this sport final yr.’ Everyone that got here in and did one thing constructive to have an effect on the sport. That’s a staff win. That’s what it’s going to take for us to be the staff we need to be. Actually, that’s an enormous win. I feel we’re all enthusiastic about it. That is one sport and no championships are received tonight, however that is one thing to be pleased with.
“We acquired hit. Fought again. Hit once more. Stored going again. Obtained the lead. Stored the lead. That’s the signal of a championship staff. How do we discover methods to reply in adversity? How do we discover methods to proceed to be who we’re by means of success?”
Despite the fact that the Cavs trailed after the primary quarter for simply the second time all season, this resilient bunch by no means wavered in its perception. They elevated their pressure and shortly regained management within the second quarter, outscoring OKC 37-27 over the subsequent 12 minutes regardless of little assist from probably All-Star and staff chief Mitchell.
Hounded by dogged defender Lu Dort all night time, it took till the 1:53 mark of the second quarter for Mitchell to attain his first factors — a pair of free throws.
Mitchell’s first made basket got here a little bit later.
With the group on its toes, within the closing seconds of the primary half, and the shot clock ticking down, Mitchell drove previous burly Dort for a dangling two-handed dunk that put an exclamation level on an exhilarating half — and gave Cleveland a three-point lead going into the locker room.
Then got here third-quarter fireworks.
Oklahoma Metropolis erupted for 43 factors, simply the third time all yr any opponent has reached the 40-point mark in opposition to Cleveland’s stingy protection. The Cavs practically matched that output with 41 of their very own, simply the fifth time the dirty Thunder allowed any opponent to cross the 40-point threshold.
On the finish of the primary 36 minutes, the 2 groups had been separated by only one level, precisely what so many anticipated going into the night time. The Cavs constructed the result in a game-high seven factors for the primary time on the 7:14 mark of the fourth quarter. Despite the fact that the examined Thunder acquired inside two factors just a few instances, together with the two-minute mark, Cleveland repeatedly made clutch performs down the stretch.
In a one-possession sport with all the pieces heightened, the Cavs, leaning on their two-big frontcourt, corralled 4 straight offensive rebounds, scoring three factors on one journey. Then got here a Darius Garland runner that prolonged the lead again to seven.
That was the dagger. And Garland knew it. He roared as Oklahoma Metropolis known as timeout after which chest-bumped teammates as he confidently strolled towards the bench.
“That is who he’s been,” Mitchell mentioned of Garland. “He had one tough yr and I feel all of us, not us, however no disrespect, however y’all put that on him like that’s who he was. That is who he’s been his entire profession. A more in-depth. Clutch participant. That’s what you’re seeing — the expansion from all of us.”
Cleveland was led by middle Jarrett Allen, who completed with 25 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Evan Mobley chipped in with 21 factors and 10 boards. Garland added 18 factors and 7 assists, stating his case to hitch Mitchell in San Francisco for the All-Star Sport. Mitchell struggled all through, mustering simply 11 factors on 3 of 16 from the sector. Ty Jerome added 15 off the bench.
“We’re relentless. Greatest staff within the league,” Garland boasted. “I don’t know, man, this staff is nice. This was an enormous win.”
The Thunder acquired 31 from MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander regardless of being in foul bother all through. Jalen Williams tallied 25 factors, 9 assists and 5 boards.
Previous to the sport, Atkinson in contrast the matchup to being within the NCAA Match. The excitement. The hype. The joy. The strain.
Wednesday night time had all of it. The buildup was warranted. Overlook market measurement. Overlook rankings. Overlook all these ancillary components. Cavs-Thunder delivered.
Who wouldn’t join that in June?
Up subsequent
The Cavs will host the Toronto Raptors Thursday night time on the second night time of a back-to-back. Tipoff is ready for 7 p.m.
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