If Wednesday night’s showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder was a preview of the NBA Finals, consider me on board for a seven-game series.
Cleveland’s 129-122 victory over Oklahoma City delivered basketball at its finest, showcasing competitive play, top-tier talent, and thrilling moments. Forget about market sizes or other narratives—this is about two outstanding teams playing incredible basketball.
At this point in the season, these are arguably the two best teams in the NBA. The Cavaliers boast an impressive 32-4 record, while the Thunder sit at 30-6. Of course, no team is guaranteed a path to the Finals. Oklahoma City still has to navigate the treacherous Western Conference, and Cleveland likely needs to overcome the reigning champions from Boston.
But the evidence so far suggests these two squads are up for the challenge. Both teams pass the eye test and excel statistically. They have established stars—Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland, and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—and rising stars in Evan Mobley and Jalen Williams. They also boast excellent coaches in Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland) and Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City) and smart front offices led by Koby Altman and Sam Presti, respectively.
Wednesday’s game wasn’t just competitive; it was pure entertainment. Cleveland leads the league in offensive efficiency and ranks eighth in defense, while Oklahoma City flips the script, sitting first in defense and eighth offensively. Both teams share the ball exceptionally well, evidenced by Cleveland’s 36 assists on 47 field goals and Oklahoma City’s 35 assists on 48 field goals.
The game had everything: 30 lead changes, eight ties, and a high-scoring third quarter (84 points combined) followed by a nail-biting finish. Neither team led by more than nine points, and with under two minutes remaining, Cleveland held a slim 124-122 lead.
Cleveland’s big men, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, stood out as twin towers adapting old-school size to a modern game. Allen finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Mobley added 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and a block. Together, they dominated the paint while Cleveland’s sharpshooters knocked down 3-pointers at an elite clip.
The Cavaliers excel at versatility, as evidenced by their 60 points in the paint on 65.2% shooting and 45 points from beyond the arc on 41.7% shooting. Their ability to attack inside and out makes them a tough matchup for any opponent.
Meanwhile, the Thunder showcased their MVP candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 31 points, and rising star Jalen Williams, who contributed 25 points, nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, and a block. Williams is making a strong case for his first All-Star nod, and with Chet Holmgren expected to return from injury later this season, Oklahoma City’s depth could get even better.
Both teams are built to contend, and this game highlighted how far they’ve come. Whether one or both teams reach the Finals is uncertain, but if it’s a Cavaliers-Thunder matchup in June, basketball fans will be in for a treat.
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