Cavs-Thunder By The Numbers

The Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT in what has quickly become one of the most anticipated games of the season.Evan Mobley blocks a shot by Lu Dort.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal called it an “NBA Finals preview” on Inside the NBA, and after last week’s historic showdown, it’s hard to argue with that sentiment.

The two teams squared off on January 8 in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers pulled off a 129-122 victory in a game that immediately earned the “instant classic” label.

The matchup was nothing short of Finals-like, featuring two teams that came in with scorching hot streaks—OKC on a 15-game win streak and Cleveland with 10 straight victories of their own. It was the first-ever meeting between a team with a 15-game winning streak (Oklahoma City) and one with a 10-game streak (Cleveland).

And to top it off, both squads entered with a win percentage of .850 or higher, an unprecedented interconference showdown.

Let’s break down the key stats and what’s at stake in “The Rematch.”

Key Stats & Storylines:

Oklahoma City Thunder:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on an absolute tear this season, winning the first two Kia NBA Western Conference Player of the Month awards. SGA is currently second in the league in scoring at 31.4 PPG, just behind Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks (31.5 PPG).
  • The Thunder are elite on defense, with three players in the top six in steals per game: SGA (third, 2.03 SPG), Jalen Williams (fifth, 1.77 SPG), and Cason Wallace (sixth, 1.71 SPG).
  • Oklahoma City has been dominant at home, riding a 9-game home winning streak at Paycom Center, with their last loss coming on Nov. 17 against the Mavericks.
  • The Thunder are also on pace to break the NBA single-season point differential record, currently at a ridiculous +12.8.

Cleveland Cavaliers:

  • The Cavaliers have been a road-warrior juggernaut, winning six straight road games by an average margin of 15.8 points per game. They boast a league-best 14-3 road record this season.
  • Donovan Mitchell (23.1 PPG) and Darius Garland (21.0 PPG) are an elite backcourt combo, averaging a combined 44.1 points per game, leading the offense as one of the league’s most dynamic duos.
  • Jarrett Allen has been nearly automatic this season, ranking second in the NBA in field goal percentage at 70.4%, while Evan Mobley sits at 10th (57.7%).
  • Cleveland leads the league in offensive rating (121.3), showcasing their firepower.

A Historic Showdown:

  • Both teams have been absolutely dominant in their recent stretch, with Oklahoma City going 18-1 in their last 19 games and Cleveland at 17-2 in that same span.
  • At 34-5, the Cavaliers and 33-6 Thunder are among just 20 teams in NBA history to start a season 33-6 or better through their first 39 games.
  • Interconference dominance: The Cavs have gone 11-0 in interconference games this season, and a win in Oklahoma City would make them just the sixth team in NBA history to start 12-0 against the opposite conference.

The Game’s Buzz:

  • Last week’s meeting generated 1.4 billion impressions across NBA platforms, a 103% year-over-year increase in engagement. No surprise, as this matchup has captured the attention of basketball fans worldwide.
  • 30 lead changes made it one of the most exciting games of the season, and with 19,432 fans packing Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the atmosphere was electric.

With both teams playing at a historically high level, it’s clear why this game is generating so much buzz. The Cavaliers are looking to extend their road dominance, while the Thunder will look to protect their home court and bounce back from their first meeting loss.

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