Thunder Gameday: Surging Cavs in Oklahoma City
On Saturday night, the Thunder will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oklahoma City. On the second night of a back-to-back, Cleveland will be at a disadvantage without a day of rest.
The Cavs have won three-straight games, as the Thunder are coming off of a dominant victory over the Brooklyn Nets. While both teams selected near the top of the 2021 NBA Draft, they have gone in different directions this season.
ODDS:
The Thunder enter the day as 5.5-point underdogs to the Cavaliers, and the total over/under is 209.5 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Unlike the Thunder, Cleveland has a ton of size. In fact, the Cavaliers often start three 7-footers while the Thunder start none.
Regardless, OKC has been the better rebounding team between these two clubs to this point in the season. Rookie Josh Giddey has been a big part of the Thunder’s success on the glass, averaging a team-high 7.3 boards per contest.
While the Thunder have struggled offensively of late, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort have the ability to take games over on that end of the floor.
Cleveland has a dynamic big duo in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who produce a combined 31.6 points and 18.9 rebounds per game. The facilitator of the offense, Darius Garland is having an All-Star season, averaging 19.1 points and 7.5 assists per contest for the Cavs.
If the Thunder are going to win this game, slowing down those three will be a huge key.
RECORDS:
Oklahoma City Thunder (14-27) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-18)
WHEN:
Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM CT
LOCATION:
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
TV/RADIO:
Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
FINAL WORD:
“We just came out the aggressors tonight,” said Gilgeous-Alexander following Wednesday’s win over Brooklyn. A team that had struggled early in many games this season, Oklahoma City will need to throw the first punch if it wants to pull off a victory today.
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