All-Star guard Darius Garland made a daring assertion to the Cleveland Cavaliers after defeating the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in a conflict of the highest two NBA groups.
Within the aftermath of the 129-122 blowout, Garland did not hesitate to crown the Cavs, who dismantled the Thunder, the very best group within the league proper now.
“We’re relentless. We’re the very best group within the league,” Garland mentioned confidently. “I don’t know, this group is nice.
“This was a giant win.”
Wednesday evening featured the very best of East and West. The Cavs and Thunder enter this 2024-25 season into a captivating matchup as they’re the one groups to have received at the least 30 video games to date.
And for Cleveland, it is simply a possibility to ship a press release that they’re a a lot better group.
The key to the Cavs’ success this season has been a powerful group assault, which was a key consider defeating the Thunder regardless of lead star Donovan Mitchell’s stoop. Seven Cavaliers scored in double figures, together with Garland with 18 factors and 7 dimes.
Cleveland’s spectacular frontcourt towers, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, mixed for 46 markers and 21 boards, placing Oklahoma Metropolis on the again foot.
In the meantime, Max Strus and Ty Jerome contributed 17 and 15 factors off the bench, respectively.
The battle was a detailed one, with 30 lead modifications, with each groups separated by greater than 9 factors. However with the vitality and help of a raucous house crowd inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the Cavaliers defeated the Thunder in a recreation that might be a precursor to June’s NBA Finals matchup.
“It was an ideal recreation,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned.
“I feel there was a playoff ambiance, there was playoff competitors, the gamers had been competing. It felt like there have been no extracurriculars. It was simply pure basketball, pure competitors. I imply, who wins? Even when we misplaced, it was clearly recreation for each the league and the followers.
“All of us take pleasure in competing, however while you have a look at all of the expertise that was there tonight, they had been the onerous hitters within the league and the standard of basketball was very excessive.”
The Cavaliers are beaming with satisfaction and glory. This huge win ended the Thunder’s 15-game profitable streak and prolonged their profitable streak to 11.
They presently boast a commanding document of 32-4, main the league, and are in a powerful place for a 70-win season, the primary because the Golden State Warriors in 2015-16. They grew to become the primary group to perform this feat.
There’s nonetheless a relative lack of consideration from the present accomplishments and nice group performances they’re exhibiting, so Mitchell believes the massive win over the Thunder is a transparent signal that they are right here and able to conquer. I hope it is a message.
“It is clear we belong right here,” he mentioned. “I do not suppose we await the nationwide media to suppose, ‘Oh, they’re one in all them.’ I feel we knew, however we went on the market and proved it. I’ve to.
“We received 31-4, however folks nonetheless do not imagine. We’ll win tonight, folks nonetheless do not imagine. We simply must hold being us.”
Nothing might be extra necessary than the Cavaliers’ huge win towards the Thunder, which ought to persuade us that they actually belong.
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