Saturday, February 15, 2025
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NBA Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers (34-5) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (33-6)

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off in a highly anticipated matchup on Thursday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Both teams are atop their respective conferences, making this game a crucial one despite the relative breathing room they have in the standings.

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder have been on a tear, winning 18 of their last 19 games, excluding their NBA Cup final defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks. They recently defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 118-102, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 32 points.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavaliers have also been impressive, winning 17 of their last 19 games. They recently bounced back from a loss to the Indiana Pacers with a 127-117 victory over the same team.

Key Matchup:

  • Donovan Mitchell vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: This game features two of the best guards in the league. Mitchell is coming off a 35-point performance against Indiana, while Gilgeous-Alexander has been consistently scoring high.

Offensive and Defensive Ratings:

  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Lead the league with a 121.3 offensive rating.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Lead the league in defensive rating at 102.9.

Injuries:

  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein will be sidelined for at least three games due to a calf injury.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Ty Jerome is questionable for the game due to illness.

Depth and Bench Strength:

  • The Cavaliers have shown impressive depth with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley stepping up when needed.
  • The Thunder have been without Chet Holmgren since mid-November, and his absence has been felt.
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