Cleveland Tops Oklahoma City in Battle of NBA Conference Leaders

The NBA Western Conference Division leading Oklahoma City Thunder met the Eastern Conference leading Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time this season on January 8th in Cleveland. The Thunder were riding a 15 game winning streak going into the game and the Cavaliers were on a 10 game streak. It was anticipated that this would be a great matchup.

It lived up to expectations. On a night when Cleveland’s top scorer, Donavan Mitchell, was off his game with only 11 points, Jarrett Allen picked up the slack with 25 and Evan Mobley scored 21. All five starters scored in double figures, as did Max Strus and Jaylon Tyson off the bench and the Cavaliers beat the Thunder 129-122. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 31 and Jalen Williams added 25. There were 30 lead changes in the game.