NBA Game Notes: Cavs-Thunder Delivers!

Notes from: Cavaliers-Thunder, 76ers-Wizards and Pacers-Bulls

I went into Wednesday’s Cavaliers-Thunder matchup with very high expectations. And you know what? Cleveland and Oklahoma City delivered. This was arguably the game of the year so far in the NBA. Incredible shot making, clutch plays, stars doing star stuff. It was everything you could want and a great showcase for the NBA on a night where they owned the sports calendar.

Here’s what I saw on Wednesday!

Oklahoma City Thunder - 122 at Cleveland Cavaliers - 129

• The Thunder threw a lot of different looks at Donovan Mitchell. Lu Dort was physical with Mitchell. Jalen Williams guarded him with his size and length. Cason Wallace used his quickness. That caused Mitchell to have one of his rare off games this season.

  No worries for the Cavs though, because they leaned on their depth.

  Max Strus and Ty Jerome combined for 32 points on 12-of-14 shooting off the Cleveland bench. Because Strus was hot from the outside, he was drawing extra attention. This was really present in the two-man game with Evan Mobley. Here’s Strus taking that defensive look and setting up Georges Niang, then dumping it down into Mobley on the roll:

• Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 13 assists in this one. Cleveland is increasingly using the two big men as playmakers. That gives the Cavaliers great versatility in how they can attack a defense.

  By now, you probably know this space loves big-to-big passing. No one is doing that better than Cleveland right now. Here’s Evan Mobley setting up Jarrett Allen with a couple of alley-oops. Then, Allen repays his frontcourt partner with the corner cut for the dunk:

• Darius Garland was really aggressive about getting downhill against Cleveland. This first play is a nice job of using his shoulder to create separation for the little floater. The second clip is Garland using his quickness and handle to get the blowby game-clinching layup:

• The Thunder had plenty of big performances of their own. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he’s an MVP candidate by stuffing the box score. Jalen Williams continued to add to his All-Star and All-NBA cases with big all-around night of his own. And Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins stepped up too.

• Six of Jalen Williams’ nine assists went to Isaiah Hartenstein. Those two have developed really good chemistry together in the two-man game. That’s become a staple of the Thunder offense in the minutes when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench.

  This is just one example of Williams driving the ball before leaving it for Hartenstein to take the floater in the paint that he’s mastered:

• Thunder coach Mark Daigneault likes to tinker with his starting lineup, but Cason Wallace has made a really good case to the permanent fifth starter. He’s playing good defense and knocking down his shots, but he’s also an improved playmaker. This is a simple, but effective read from Wallace vs forcing up the contested shot in the paint:

• Lu Dort didn’t have his shot going, but he was still a big part of slowing down Donovan Mitchell. You can’t defend a player better this this. Dort stays in front, reads the turnaround and blocks Mitchell’s shot: