The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, two of the NBA’s best teams, will face off on Wednesday.
Cleveland has the league’s best record (31-4), while Oklahoma City is right behind the Cavs at 30-5. It will be the first time these two teams have met this late in a season when both are in first place in their conferences.
This is also the second time in NBA history that multiple teams have started 30-5 or better. It also occurred in 1971-72, when the Los Angeles Lakers started 32-3 and the Milwaukee Bucks began 30-5.
Here are the key stats as the Thunder and Cavaliers face off.
Rare matchup of win percentages
Both teams have a win percentage greater than.850 heading into Wednesday. The teams have played a total of 70 games, making it the third-most combined games played in a matchup between two teams with a win percentage of.850 or higher.
In 2016, the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs surpassed this mark twice, first with 88 games played and later with 136. Oklahoma City and Cleveland will meet again on January 16.
Hot streaks
The two teams come into the game on hot streaks, particularly the Thunder. They are on a franchise-record 15-game winning streak, and their NBA Cup Final loss is not counted toward the regular season.
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are on a 10-game winning streak, with each victory coming by double digits, matching the NBA’s longest such streak.
Wednesday marks the third time in NBA history that teams with double-digit win streaks will face off. This is the first meeting between the Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers since 2000.
Oklahoma City will also become the third team in NBA history to face the team with the league’s best record while on a 15-game winning streak. The Phoenix Suns last did it in November 2021, defeating the Warriors and extending their winning streak.
Point differentials forecast gold
The Thunder and Cavaliers have had a dominant season so far.
Oklahoma City has a league-leading PPG differential of plus-12.1, which would be the fourth highest ever in a single season. Cleveland is just behind them, with an average point differential of plus-11.8.
If that margin remains, it is a good sign for both sides. Every NBA team in history that had a PPG differential of plus-11.3 or better in a season won the championship, including the Boston Celtics last season (plus-11.4).
Getting it done in different ways
While winning has been the common thread between Oklahoma City and Cleveland, they have done their best work on opposite ends of the court. The Thunder lead the NBA in defensive efficiency (102.7), while the Cavaliers lead in offensive efficiency (121.3).
Oklahoma City leads the league in opponents’ points per game, field goal percentage, and 3-point field goal percentage, among other defensive metrics. Cleveland leads in points per game, field goal percentage, and three-point field goal percentage.
This season, the Thunder have held their opponents to fewer than 100 points 16 times, a league high. Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been instrumental in their defensive dominance; he is the only player in the NBA who averages two steals and one block per game.
The Cavaliers’ offense, led by guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, is no different. They are on track to become the first team in NBA history to attempt more than 40 3-pointers per game and make more than 40% of them.