That's what makes Wednesday interesting. The Thunder came into Cleveland after 2 straight road losses by 20-plus, at Dallas and Houston. They stopped the slide by giving the ball to their MVP and getting out of the way. Back home, where they beat the Clippers and Suns to open the year, the question is whether that can work 2 games in a row against a Cleveland team that just watched it happen.
Cleveland is 4-3 with real swings in it. They beat Milwaukee by 25 on the road and needed everything to get past Minnesota 127-125. Then they lost at Atlanta and lost at home to a Thunder team playing its 8th and 9th men in real minutes. The Cavaliers have shown they can score in bunches. Monday was about 1 bad quarter and nobody who could stay in front of Gilgeous-Alexander when it counted.
Cleveland's injury news matters too. Jaylon Tyson is out with an ankle sprain and Peyton Watson missed Monday with a hamstring, which leaves the Cavaliers short on wings for exactly this assignment. If Watson's back, they get another body to throw at Shai. If he isn't, the same few defenders get the job again, this time on the road.
Tipoff is 7:00 PM CT. Rematches 2 days apart tend to be about adjustments, and the Cavaliers have the easier one to make. Oklahoma City's plan is Shai and as many shots as he wants, and that plan already beat them once.
