What To Expect In Final Cavs-Thunder Regular Season Matchup

Cleveland looks to begin its four-game road trip with a victory and split its season series against Oklahoma City.

Logan Potosky | Nov 8, 2023

What To Expect In Final Cavs-Thunder Regular Season Matchup /

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Cleveland Cavaliers

Tonight, the Cleveland Cavaliers embark on a four-game Western Conference road trip with a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The two teams squared off in Cleveland’s home-opener on October 27th, with Oklahoma City coming away with a 108-105 victory.

Here are four things to expect in the final 2023-24 regular season matchup between the Cavaliers and Thunder.

1. A Different Cleveland Team

In the first contest between these two teams last month, Cleveland was without starters Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen due to injury.

After dealing with various early-season injuries, the Wine and Gold will have their full-strength starting five for the third straight game.

2. Tough Interior Defense

These two teams combined for 18 blocks the last time they faced each other.

In just his second career NBA game, Chet Holmgren set a Thunder rookie record with seven blocks. For Cleveland, both Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell led the way with two blocks apiece.

Both Holmgren (2.4 BPG) and Mobley (2.3 BPG) currently rank top-six in the NBA in blocks per game.

Oct 27, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) looks to shoot beside Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) in the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse / © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

3. Another Mitchell Masterpiece

Entering tonight’s contest, Cleveland’s starting shooting guard is tied for the NBA’s scoring lead at 32.5 points per game.

He has scored at least 30 points in each of his last three games, and four of his last five. Mitchell had a season-high 43 points in the Wine and Gold’s last game against Oklahoma City.

4. Two Balanced Offenses

Both the Thunder and Cavaliers currently have six players averaging at least 10.0 points per game.

Four Oklahoma City players scored in double-figures against Cleveland earlier this season, while five Cavaliers reached this mark in their last game on Sunday night.

With a win tonight, Cleveland would move to .500 for the second time this season.

Published Nov 8, 2023

LOGAN POTOSKY

Logan Potosky is an aspiring play-by-play sports broadcaster who, to date, has called approximately 350+ hours of professional, college, and high school sporting events. He is currently the Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. He graduated from John Carroll University in May of 2023 with a degree in Communication, with a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Entrepreneurship.