We take the same ones and start almost nothing again. The second round between the two best teams of the first half of the season turned into a standoff for the Thunder, easy winner of Cleveland at home (134-114). Thursday, the shock was not really one as OKC made short work of the Cavs from the start of the match.
The absence of Isaiah Hartenstein, injured in the calf, and four quick points from Jarrett Allen on Jaylin Williams would have been enough to fear a scenario identical to last January 8, when Kenny Atkinson’s team reigned in the racket. But this thunderous start did not last and the visitors did not score anything for almost four minutes. It’s barely better for the Thunder in a match that started rather timidly… before the start of the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander show.
The Canadian takes the first quarter into his own hands by chaining step-backs at mid-distance then accelerations towards the circle. And when he doesn’t finish the action himself, he finds surprise guest Branden Carlson, to fire from behind the arc. Launched, OKC adds its stifling defensive touch to better give itself rhythm in attack. The Cavaliers finished the first quarter with more lost balls (7) than baskets scored (6) and the Thunder concluded the period with a 22-2 lead to lead 32-14 after 12 minutes.
77 points in 24 minutes for OKC!
The locals are euphoric and don’t take their foot off the accelerator. Lu Dort turns into an offensive leader in a style that we didn’t know about him, in one-on-one. Everything is smiling in OKC and Alex Caruso, another defensive leader, drives home the point in attack with eight points in just over a minute. The Cavaliers are on the ropes and continue their mismanagement in attack with new lost balls, synonymous with easy baskets for the Thunder. There is only Darius Garland, 15 points in the second quarter, to find solutions. But Gilgeous-Alexander responded with 11 points in five minutes in an offensive festival. A final 9-2 to end a quarter with 43 points scored and the locals are already killing any suspense (75-49).
And they are not satisfied with it, far from it. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander started the second period as he had finished the first, in total domination of events. “SGA” is everywhere, on the placed play as well as the dunk in transition on Garland, but also in the distribution as he focuses the defense. Cleveland does not have the answer and tirelessly rolls with the punches. The Thunder don’t even need to be skilled at 3-pointers, except for Dort, to fly away. The difference in intensity between the two teams, and the euphoria emanating from Oklahoma City are astonishing: +42 with 14 minutes remaining!
The Thunder equaled the record for points scored in a quarter (44) and the two teams quickly drew the curtain (119-81 at the end of the 3rd quarter). The Cavaliers bench took the opportunity to reduce the gap and alleviate the humiliation a little.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– But how can we stop this Thunder? Like against Boston at the start of the month, Oklahoma City lived up to the bill at home. By imposing a suffocating defense, Mark Daigneault’s men provide themselves with infinite fuel in attack, enhanced by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s extraordinary domination (40 points in less than 30 minutes). The Cavaliers have never found the key and it is starting to be more and more difficult to imagine how to calm this team when it enters into a merger with its Paycom Center. OKC returns thanks to this victory to the level of the Cavaliers at the top of the league records (34-6).
– The Cleveland racket did not benefit from it. While the conditions were ripe to press where it hurts, the Cavaliers were unable to rely sufficiently on their domination in the paint to go the distance. Jarrett Allen was not unworthy, but Evan Mobley was transparent. And the advantage of +10 in rebounding was completely swept away by the 21 lost balls, or the small 13/42 at 3-points.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
