The meeting of the current best teams in the NBA turned into a spectacle – with the Cleveland Cavaliers coming out on top against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The team led by German center Isaiah Hartenstein had won 15 times, but this series was broken on Thursday night (January 9th, 2025) in Cleveland, which in turn achieved its eleventh success in a row. The “Cavs” remain the most successful team of the NBA season so far, they improved their record to 32 wins and four defeats, “OKC” is now 30:6.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the most successful Thunder thrower with 31 points, while Hartenstein (18 points, eleven rebounds, eight assists) and Jalen Williams also showed strong overall performances with 25 points, nine assists and three steals. The Cavaliers once again shone as a collective, with seven players scoring in double figures, with Jarrett Allen scoring the best with 25 points.
The lead changed hands 30 times in the big game before Cleveland was able to pull away a little in the final phase. In the USA, people are now looking forward to the next duel between the two top teams – the City Thunder will have the opportunity for revenge next Thursday (January 16, 2025 / local time).
Theis’ Pelicans are on the losing end again
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans’ brief interim high with German world champion Daniel Theis seems to be over again. The Pelicans lost their home game against the Portland Trail Blazers 100:119. It was the second defeat in a row for New Orleans after the team had briefly caused a stir with two wins in a row.
As usual, Theis played around a third of the game and scored six points. He also secured six rebounds. The best player in the game was Deni Avdija from the Trail Blazers with 26 points.