The Oklahoma City Thunder came out of the break a bit sluggish on Friday night as they hosted the Brooklyn Nets, but they found some rhythm as the game wore on to pick up a 105-86 win. The competition picks up a bit on Sunday afternoon, however, as the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town for a noon tip-off.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continues the 4-game road trip on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with a matinee matchup in Cleveland against the Cavaliers. The Thunder is fresh off a tough 122-120 loss in Miami against the Heat on Saturday, while the Cavs are coming off two days of rest after a narrow 117-115 win in Philadelphia against the 76ers.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #44 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers
This is right about where I had the spread in my mind, and as much as I want to take OKC to rebound from the Miami loss with a nice win in Cleveland, it’s hard to justify when the Cavs have very capable rebounders, and that’s what killed the Thunder against the Heat. OKC is better in the clutch, which is why I think a close game tips the Thunder’s direction, but I think Cleveland just barely covers the spread.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC a Solid Favorite Despite Tough Test in Cleveland
The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the league’s best record on Thursday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers are in town, but the Thunder will have to do it without big man Isaiah Hartenstein, who is out with a strained left soleus. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were dominant in the first matchup between these two teams just 8 days ago, so OKC will have to figure out a way to be successful in matching up small ball with Cleveland’s big men.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #40 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers
With no Isaiah Hartenstein or Chet Holmgren, OKC might win one or two games against the Cavaliers if this were a 7-game series. Fortunately for the Thunder, this just a regular season game, which gives them a lot of options. Losing Hartenstein for at least a week sucks, but OKC still has the best player in the matchup, so I’m thinking the Thunder can strategize well enough to sneak past Cleveland for a win tonight.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC a Narrow Favorite at Home Against Cavs Despite No Hartenstein
The Oklahoma City Thunder are to be a part of NBA history on Wednesday when they take on the Cavaliers in Cleveland. OKC—the top-seeded team in the West— and Cleveland—the top-seeded team in the East— will go head-to-head as the first teams in NBA history to have a 15-game winning streak and a 10-game winning streak.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #36 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers
OKC has played a pretty tough schedule so far, particularly as of late, but they seem to find ways to win anyway. The Cavs have rolled through teams at an impressive pace, but they have actually played one of the weakest schedules of the entire league. During Cleveland’s 10-game win streak, only 5 of those teams are currently in a Playoff position. Granted, each of their 10 wins has been by double digits. Meanwhile, OKC is on a 15-game win streak, and has played 10 of their last 12 games against a team in a Playoff position. OKC’s win margin hasn’t been quite as impressive as Cleveland’s, but they’ve turned close games into solid wins, and that’s why I expect the Thunder not only to cover the spread, but to win in Cleveland tonight.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Plays Underdog on the Road in Cleveland
Tonight’s matchup features two of the most exciting guards in professional basketball as the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes on Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell. While both players have the ability to go out and score 40+ points on any given night, I’m anticipating a lower-scoring game overall. When it comes down to it, OKC has to figure out a way to be more effective at rebounding the basketball, or they could really struggle with the length of the Cavaliers.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #8 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers
OKC might be without Luguentz Dort, who is questionable with a sprained right hip, which makes slowing down Donovan Mitchell all the more difficult. Still, the Thunder has started to figure some things out, and as the team starts to play more like a team, they tend to rely less on individual players to carry them in different areas of the game. OKC is deeper than Cleveland, and I think that gives them the edge in tonight’s matchup. Add to it that the Thunder is in front of a home crowd for the fifth straight game, and I see OKC pulling out a win.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Cavs Slight Favorite Against Thunder In OKC
OKC continues their short road trip to start the season as they get ready to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The Cavs pulled off a 114-113 victory on Wednesday in Brooklyn over the Nets, but they are dealing with some key injuries that leave a little shorthanded in the backcourt as Darius Garland is questionable to play with a strained hamstring. The key matchup to watch will feature two of the league’s star guards as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces off with Donovan Mitchell.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #2 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers