Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Oklahoma City's 15-game winning streak by beating the Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday night in a marquee meeting between the NBA's top two teams.
The Cavs extended their winning streak to 11, improved the league's best record to 32-4 - 11-0 against the West - and moved to 19-1 at home. They did it on and off night for leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who had just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Jalen Williams had 25 for the Thunder in their first loss since Dec. 1.
There were 30 lead changes and neither team led by more than nine in a game that had all the vibes of a Finals game in June.
The matchup was only the third in history between teams riding double-digit winning streaks. The last time it happened was on Jan. 26, 1995, when Seattle and Utah entered their game each on 10-game winning runs.
With Cleveland up 125-122, Mitchell was called for a loose ball foul with 1:19 remaining. The Cavs challenged, and the call was reversed by replay review. Mobley then hit a short jumper to put Cleveland up five.
Only four teams have posted a better record through 36 games than Cleveland: Golden State (34-2) in 2015-16, Philadelphia (33-3) in 1966-67, the Los Angeles Lakers (33-3) in 1971-72 and Chicago (33-3) in 1995-96.
CAVS HOOPS. CAVS HOOPS. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/HtVXYUQ2yG
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 9, 2025
Siakam leads surging Pacers
Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Thomas Bryant added a season-high 22 and Tyrese Haliburton had 16 points and 13 assists in the Indiana Pacers' 129-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Siakam made 11 of 17 shots from the field to help Indiana win its fourth straight, all by 10 or more points. Bryant had eight rebounds as the Pacers continued climbing the Eastern Conference standings with their 10th win in 13 games.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 31 points. Coby White had 19 points and five assists as Chicago lost for the first time in three games and just the second time in six.
Indiana built a 36-18 lead early in the second quarter and Chicago never got within single digits again.
When Haliburton left late in the first quarter, it appeared as if Chicago might dig itself out of a 23-18 deficit. Instead, the Pacers poured it on, charging to a 36-18 lead early in the second quarter, forcing Chicago to play catch-up for the rest of the game.
double-double Ty
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 9, 2025
vote to make Tyrese Haliburton an #NBAAllStar at https://t.co/T6jmxAXvtp. pic.twitter.com/gXnWJv7GIN
Bucks ride stars past Spurs
Damian Lillard had 26 points and eight assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-105.
Brook Lopez scored 22 points, including 17 in the first half, and AJ Green and Gary Trent each added 14 as the Bucks won their second consecutive game after losing four of five.
Keldon Johnson scored 24 points to lead the Spurs. Chris Paul added 18 points, Harrison Barnes had 14 and Devin Vassell 11. Victor Wembanyama had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
With the score tied at 33 early in the second quarter, the Bucks went on a 32-13 run to close the first half, led by the 3-point shooting of Green, Lopez and Lillard. The Spurs opened the second half on a 16-5 run to pull within 10 and Paul’s third 3 of the quarter pulled San Antonio within eight. However, Milwaukee pushed the lead back to 13 by the end of the third quarter.
San Antonio had no players in double figures in the first half and finished 18 for 52 on 3-pointers.
Consistent greatness. pic.twitter.com/E9whOZMZAj
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 9, 2025