The Cleveland Cavaliers emerged victorious in a high-stakes NBA showdown, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-122 in a game that marked the first-ever matchup between teams on 15- and 10-game winning streaks.
A Battle of the Best
The Thunder entered the game with a 15-game winning streak, while the Cavaliers were riding a 10-game streak of their own. After 30 lead changes in a tightly contested battle at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, the Cavaliers extended their streak to 11 games, breaking Oklahoma City’s run and solidifying their dominance in the league.
This marks the second time Cleveland has won at least 11 straight games in a season, having started this season with a 15-0 record.
Cavs’ Dynamic Duo Shines
Center Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 25 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while power forward Evan Mobley added 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The pair became the first Cleveland teammates to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade achieved the feat in 2017.
“It felt like a battle the whole night,” Allen said. “They were scoring. We were scoring, getting stops on both sides. At the end of the night, it came down to which team had more effort.”
Thunder’s All-Star Effort Falls Short
Despite the loss, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a game-high 31 points, shooting 13-of-27 from the field. Forward Jalen Williams contributed 25 points, nine assists, and five rebounds.
The Thunder’s defeat marked their first loss since December 1, snapping their impressive 15-game streak.
Looking Ahead
The Cavaliers, now 32-4, will next host the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. The Thunder, sitting at 30-6, will face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
The two teams are set to clash again on January 16 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
