Cavs will still have something to prove in Oklahoma City

This was supposed to be a measuring stick game for the Cavaliers. Instead, it comes with an asterisk.

Cleveland only sees the reigning champion Thunder twice, and on paper this matchup had real juice. Injuries took some of that away. Oklahoma City will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, along with perimeter stopper Alex Caruso.

That matters. When the Thunder are missing that trio, the offense drops off sharply. The defense still travels, anchored by Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, but scoring becomes a grind.

For the Cavs, this is still a real test. James Harden is settling into the offense, and this is the type of defense that exposes sloppy reads and late decisions. Oklahoma City may not score like usual, but they force you to execute.

The question is whether the Cavs can take advantage. The Thunder won’t overwhelm teams offensively without their stars, which puts pressure on the Cavs to separate instead of letting the game linger.

It may not be the showcase it once promised. It’s still a revealing afternoon.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. EST on ABC.