The NBA’s top two forces collided for a battle in Oklahoma City.
The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Cleveland Cavaliers it was a tightly-contested road battle. Without Chet Holmgren, they took a late loss. This time around, the game is in Oklahoma City, though the squad is without both Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein — their two 7-footers.
Being absent two key players didn’t pose much of a challenge for the Thunder, as they took a 20-plus point lead in the first half.
Oklahoma City controlled the game from the second quarter on. They never let the game get close again and they kept pushing the scoreboard further and further, leading by as much as 40 points at one point.
Eventually, the Thunder defeated the Cavaliers 134-114, though the final score isn’t indicative of how the first 36 minutes played out. In fact, the 20-point margin was better than it could have been for Cleveland.
The Thunder are a force regardless of their rotation
Oklahoma City has been without Holmgren for quite some time now. They’ve come away with some incredibly impressive wins in that span. Add a superb win without him or Hartenstein now. Instead, it was Brandon Carlson playing his first minutes of substance while the Thunder blew the game open in the first half.
Many different players stepped up in a big way, too. Lu Dort, who is a constant threat as a defender, tacked on 22 points with efficient 8-of-11 shooting. Jalen Williams scored 19 points himself.
Off the bench, Isaiah Joe and Alex Caruso both scored in double figures, too. There is a strength in numbers the Thunder have, as they’re built remarkably well.
Regardless of who the Thunder has on the floor, they are a force. Their defense is suffocating and their offensive attack is relentless. There is one exception, though, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is remarkable and is building quite a resume this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making his mark as the potential MVP
Gilgeous-Alexander is at the helm of Oklahoma City’s elite season. He’s putting together a third-straight MVP-caliber campaign, and he continues to evolve his game. For the Kentucky product, Gilgeous-Alexander has the running stats on the season to take home the award. Each season, though, one MVP candidate is able to separate himself from the pack.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in 29 minutes played. By helping the Thunder to a massive lead through three quarters, his game was cut short before he could attempt to get his career high in scoring.
When taking on one of the league’s best in a potential NBA Finals preview, Gilgeous-Alexander rose to the challenge and absolutely dominated on the hardwood. That’s something an MVP does to make his stamp on the season.
The Cavaliers need more from Donovan Mitchell on the biggest stage
There’s no doubt Donovan Mitchell is having a superb season for the Cavaliers. He’s the driving force on a well-rounded team that sits atop the NBA. However, taking on another contending-level squad, Mitchell didn’t quite show up.
In the matchup, the Cleveland star guard scored just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in 21 minutes played. When the Cavaliers got off to a slow start, it was up to Mitchell to turn the tide and his inability to show up handicapped the team.
It wasn’t just Mitchell, though. The entire team came out flat in the matchup. Still, they’ve got a 34-6 record and sit atop the Eastern Conference. For Mitchell, it’s just a learning lesson as the superstar player on the team. He’s got to be better as a leader when things aren’t going well.
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