THE Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been the most well liked workforce within the NBA over the previous month; they went on a 15-game profitable streak that included large victories over the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, bolstering their traditionally glorious protection. However the Thunder met with one other Cleveland Cavaliers participantwho then stopped their profitable streak on Wednesday night time after struggling a 129-122 defeat on the highway regardless of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 factors.
This was at all times going to be the largest check of the Thunder’s season up to now, and whereas they managed to do effectively regardless of lacking two essential items in Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso, it turned clear that there are nonetheless some issues for OKC. clean it out to maneuver ahead. Head coach Marc Daigneaultparticularly, credited Cavs middle Jarrett Allen for his relentlessness on the glasswhich put a lot strain on them particularly on the finish of the match.
“He was a drive on the glass. A whole lot of our fouls got here on the glass with him setting us again at completely different factors within the sport. He had a very, actually good night time,” Daigneault stated after the Thunder loss, by way of Joel Lorenzi of Oklahoman Sports activities.
The Cavs made a concerted effort to place Allen in quite a few conditions to wreak havoc on the glass. Whereas the Thunder modified all the pieces at crunch time, Isaiah Hartenstein nearly at all times guarded somebody on the perimeter. This left Allen with a a lot smaller man on him, giving him all the benefits on the earth on the offensive boards. He definitely made them pay, as he grabbed eight offensive rebounds and allowed the Cavs to win the possession battle.
Anyway, it is a studying second for the Thunderand they’ll solely turn out to be a a lot better workforce any longer as soon as Chet Holmgren returns.
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Cavs surpass Thunder at finish of shut sport
With the margins being slim between the Cavs and Thunder, it will at all times come right down to which workforce made the extra appropriate performs. That workforce, on Thursday night time, ended up being the Cavs. Nonetheless, Mark Daigneault gave Cleveland all credit score to the world for having survived them throughout a conflict between two giants of the affiliation.
“A whole lot of it was simply stops. …we actually relaxed throughout the third half. We have been sort of buying and selling baskets at that time within the sport, which is clearly not who we’re. They usually actually executed their shot till the top,” added Daigneault.
