OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder ahead Jalen Williams observed a distinction in his workforce’s method in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a 129-122 Thunder loss to the Cavs snapped a 15-game win streak, Oklahoma Metropolis dominated its opponent eight days later on the Paycom Heart in a 134-114 victory the place Cleveland by no means stood an opportunity.
Williams and the Thunder’s vital 30-2 run within the first half stored their opponent at bay the remainder of the night time. For Jalen, the important thing to Oklahoma Metropolis’s method was its protection, a putting distinction to his workforce’s effort in Cleveland. After Thursday’s win, Williams mentioned the distinction.
“We simply tried to make them as uncomfortable as attainable, enjoying protection,” Williams stated. “I believed we set the tone there, watching again our first time we performed them, we simply had a whole lot of blown coverages. Once you give that to a workforce, they get a rhythm, and it’s sort of exhausting to cease. So, I believed we did a great job of simply coming collectively as a workforce defensively, not having as a lot of these defensive lapses, and making them actually need to work for possessions.”
The Cavs’ 13 first-half turnovers translated to a vital momentum shift for the Thunder. Coupled with Oklahoma Metropolis connecting on 11-of-19 threes and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26 factors earlier than halftime, the Cavs confronted a frightening 75-49 deficit to begin the second half.
The Thunder’s protection held All-Star Donovan Mitchell to eight factors on 3-of-15 capturing. And after Jarrett Allen (25 factors) and Evan Mobley (21 factors) mixed for 46 factors in final week’s 129-122 Cavs win, Mobley completed with 5 factors on 2-of-7 makes an attempt, whereas Allen added 13 factors and 7 rebounds.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40 factors and eight assists led the Thunder. Lu Dort scored 22 factors, together with six threes, and Jalen Williams completed with 19 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists, and three steals for the Thunder.
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Mark Daigneault reveals catalyst to 32-2 Thunder run vs Cavs
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault mentioned what led to a 32-2 run within the first half of Thursday’s win in opposition to the Cavs. His workforce’s defensive method was vital, as Daigneault addressed its affect in distinction to final week’s 129-122 loss in Cleveland.
“We had been stacking stops; we had been turning them over. Nice exercise, and I believed we simply dealt with the purpose of assault tonight manner higher,” Daigneault stated. “We had been in a position to blunt that a part of the sport, and final week, we had been simply behind the ball the entire sport. And actually, they’d their manner by way of touching the paint in opposition to us and winding up on us in particular person protection. That hasn’t occurred to us very a lot.”
The Thunder will face the Mavericks on Friday.