NBA roundup: Cavaliers win battle of top seeds, Pistons & Pacers also win
In a significant matchup that could foreshadow the NBA Finals, Jarrett Allen led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, scoring 25 points.
With this win, the Cavaliers, who currently hold the best record in the NBA, improved to 32-4, marking their 11th consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the Thunder, leaders of the Western Conference, fell to 30-6, ending their franchise-record 15-game winning streak.
"It felt like a battle all night," Allen remarked. "We were scoring, they were scoring, and both teams were making stops. We understood that the outcome would depend on which team exerted more effort."
Despite a challenging night for Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, who managed only 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting, Cleveland's frontcourt players excelled.
Allen not only led the scoring but also contributed 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, collaborating effectively with Evan Mobley, who recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
This marked the first instance since 2017 that two Cavaliers teammates achieved at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a single game, a feat previously accomplished by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
"We were eager to try it," Allen stated regarding their partnership in the paint. "We are learning to grow together. It’s a process that takes time, but Evan and I are committed to working together to discover what works best."
Cleveland had seven players score in double figures, including Darius Garland with 18 points, Max Strus contributing 17 points off the bench, and Ty Jerome adding 15 points.
"Everyone is prepared to play," Allen noted. "Everyone is willing to make the extra pass to find the open man, and we have numerous shooters on this team capable of making shots."
This game marked only the third occasion in NBA history where two teams with winning streaks of 10 or more faced off, the first since the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000.
Additionally, it was only the second time in NBA history that a game featured teams with 30 or more wins in their first 35 games, the previous instance occurring between the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks during the 1971-72 season.
Oklahoma City entered the matchup with an impressive 11-0 record against the Eastern Conference, while Cleveland boasted a perfect 10-0 record against the Western Conference. This encounter marked a historic moment, as it was the first instance since the establishment of conferences in 1970 that teams faced each other with such significant winning streaks against the opposing conference.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout performer for the Thunder, scoring 31 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 25 points. Oklahoma City is set to host a rematch on January 16.
The Cavaliers, who achieved a remarkable 15-game winning streak to start the season, recorded the second-best start in NBA history. They faced off against the league's top defense while being the most accurate shooting team in the NBA.
Despite a slow start, where Donovan Mitchell missed his first seven attempts, he managed to score a dunk with 12 seconds left in the second quarter, giving Cleveland a 62-59 lead at halftime.
Both teams scored 40 points in the third quarter, marking an NBA first for the season.
The contest remained tightly contested in the closing minutes, with the Cavaliers leading 125-122 after a total of 30 lead changes.
Evan Mobley's floater extended Cleveland's lead to 127-122 with 67 seconds on the clock, and Darius Garland sealed the game with a layup 27 seconds before the final buzzer.
"We have the best record, but in games like this, you want to prove yourself, not just to everyone else, but to ourselves," Mitchell remarked.
In another game, the Milwaukee Bucks triumphed over the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 121-105, led by two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who recorded 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists. The Spurs featured their 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, who contributed 10 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and one assist.
Damian Lillard was the top scorer for the Bucks, finishing with 26 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.
"I feel great about our team," Lillard expressed. "I love what we're becoming. We just need to keep progressing in the right direction."
Antetokounmpo, the leading scorer in the NBA, set a new franchise record for double-doubles with 432.
"I'm just trying to play hard and maintain consistency for my team," Antetok
Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo, the leading scorer in the NBA, has established a new career record for double-doubles with the Milwaukee Bucks, totaling 432.
"I am focused on playing hard and maintaining consistency for my team," Antetokounmpo remarked. "When you approach the game this way, individual achievements will follow, but my primary goal is to secure victories."
Tyrese Maxey contributed 29 points, guiding the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109-103 win against the Washington Wizards, while Malik Beasley scored 23 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 113-98 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets.
In the absence of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who was sidelined due to illness, the Denver Nuggets dominated the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 126-103, with Jamal Murray leading the team with 21 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns and O.G. Anunoby each netted 27 points, propelling the New York Knicks to a 112-98 victory over the Toronto Raptors, while Cameroonian Pascal Siakam scored 26 points to help Indiana secure a 129-113 win against the Chicago Bulls.
Deni Avdija scored 26 points, energizing Portland to a 119-100 victory over New Orleans.
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