Cavs Snap Thunder’s 15-Game Win Streak with 129-122 Victory

AFP/APP

Washington: In a historic clash that could be a potential NBA Finals preview, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday.

The win marked Cleveland’s 11th consecutive victory, improving their league-best record to 32-4, while snapping the Thunder’s 15-game win streak, leaving them at 30-6.

Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 25 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Despite star guard Donovan Mitchell struggling with just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting, Cleveland’s big men dominated.

Allen and Evan Mobley, who contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, became the first Cavaliers teammates to each notch 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in 2017.

“We were willing to try it,” Allen said about their growing inside tandem. “Evan and I are learning to work together to find what works best.”

Seven Cavs players finished with double-digit points, including Darius Garland (18), Max Strus (17), and Ty Jerome (15). The Cavaliers displayed strong team play, with Allen emphasizing the importance of unselfish passing and a high number of shooters on the roster.

The game was a historic showdown, marking just the third NBA contest in history with two teams on win streaks of 10 or more games, and the second involving clubs with 30 or more wins in their first 35 games.

The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 31 points and Jalen Williams with 25, kept the game close. The Cavs held a narrow 125-122 lead late in the contest, with Mobley’s floater pushing the lead to 127-122, followed by Garland’s layup for the final margin. A rematch is scheduled for January 16 in Oklahoma City.

“Games like this help us prove ourselves, not just to others but to ourselves,” Mitchell remarked.

In other NBA action, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 121-105 behind 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists from two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Damian Lillard added 26 points for the Bucks. In a losing effort, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets cruised past the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103, with Jamal Murray leading Denver with 21 points. The Philadelphia 76ers triumphed 109-103 over Washington, powered by Tyrese Maxey’s 29 points. The Detroit Pistons defeated the Brooklyn Nets 113-98, with Malik Beasley scoring 23 points.

In other notable games, Karl-Anthony Towns and O.G. Anunoby each scored 27 points to help the New York Knicks defeat Toronto 112-98, while Pascal Siakam’s 26 points led Indiana to a 129-113 victory over Chicago. Portland triumphed 119-100 in New Orleans, fueled by Deni Avdija’s 26-point performance.