The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday, improving to 32-4 to maintain the best record in the NBA. The Thunder remain second best with a similarly dominant 30-6 record, but Cleveland came out on top in the rubber match between conference leaders.

In many ways, the game was a distillation of the exact play styles that have made both teams powerhouses in the 2024-25 season. The Thunder leaned heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP front-runner who delivered again in a 31-point performance. Forward Jalen Williams also came through with 25 points and nine assists. 

But while the Thunder, stocked to the brim with young talent, were as effective as ever on offense Wednesday, the team’s elite defense could not contain Cleveland. Instead of counting on one star, the Cavaliers were efficient from top to bottom, relying on seven different players to put up double-digit points totals. Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland performed well but took a back seat to forwards Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Allen scored 25 points with 11 rebounds, while Mobley scored 21 with 10.

While the Thunder appear to be next in a long line of traditional championship contenders, building around superstar Gilgeous-Alexander, the Cavaliers are unique in their surprise run to the top of the Eastern Conference. Instead of relying on a single playmaker, the team instead focuses on elite efficiency and playmaking ability from everyone on the floor.

To defeat a team like the Thunder, opponents must choose one of three approaches: try to contain Gilgeous-Alexander, isolate him from the rest of his team, or run the Thunder’s historically strong defense off the floor with lights-out shooting. All three options have proven immensely difficult this season, but Wednesday’s game proved that defeating the Cavaliers in their current iteration is even harder. 

There is no clear target on Cleveland’s offense, no obvious focal point. Trying to contain the team is like trying to plug too many holes in the side of a boat. The Thunder remain the best defense in the league, but the team was completely hapless for long stretches against the Cavaliers, who stunned them with one of the most well-rounded attacks in the NBA’s recent history. In a league dominated by selfish basketball, Cleveland has developed a many-headed monster.

Of course, many insiders speculate that the Cavaliers are still doomed to also-ran status when the postseason arrives. From a long-term perspective, the criticisms come easily. The team has too many moving pieces and is too dependent on shooting efficiency. It’s a house of cards. Players get hurt; players go cold. The Celtics and Thunder have more bankable superstars and stronger defenses. The Cavaliers will rack up wins now but won’t be able to sustain momentum in a series. 

Looking at it months in advance, all of it checks out. They’re all logical things to say. But no one wants to play Cleveland tomorrow, and the number of days until the postseason is rapidly receding with each and every victory.

The Cavaliers beat the Raptors 104-96 Sunday evening to remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, but the win came at a high cost: Their All-Star C Jarrett Allen sustained a fractured finger and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Allen only played 10 minutes, but that was enough to do it. He added six points and two rebounds in the bittersweet victory.

As of yet, it’s unclear the severity of the injury, but it comes at an inopportune time for the team, which is in the midst of a playoff push. With the win, Cleveland is 37-27 and as of now wouldn’t have to play in the play-in tournament—seventh place does, though.

The Cavs have a three-game lead over Toronto for the sixth seed. The playoffs start in a month.

Allen was having perhaps his finest season: Over 55 games he’s averaged 16.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks. While he’s out the team will most likely use rookie Evan Mobley, veteran Kevin Love or even Ed Davis at center.

The Detroit Pistons earned the first pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, and Ben Wallace was there to represent the franchise. Wallace was recently announced as an inductee to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and is a Pistons legend that helped the team win the 2004 NBA Finals.

The first pick will ensure the Pistons will add another top-level talent to their young team. Just last year, the Pistons took three players in the first round of the draft. It will also be the Pistons’ first top-five selection since 2003 when they took Darko Milicic second overall. It will be Detroit’s first top overall pick since they drafted Hall of Fame center Bob Lanier in 1970.

“Obviously we get to add another wing player to the restoration process,” Detroit’s general manager Troy Weaver said. “We’re excited to be in this position. But it means that we’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’re going to be diligent about it. But it always helps to be able to add the No. 1 pick.”

Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham is expected by many to be the first pick of the draft.

The top three picks of the draft are the Pistons, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Rockets have entered a rebuilding process after trading away star James Harden to the Nets.

Cleveland has picked fifth each of the past two seasons, but this time they got lucky with the third pick. The Cavaliers are looking to make the playoffs next season with their young core of guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, forward Isaac Okoro and center Jarrett Allen.

The rest of the order is as follows:

• 4. Toronto Raptors
• 5. Orlando Magic
• 6. Oklahoma City Thunder
• 7. Golden State Warriors
• 8. Orlando Magic
• 9. Sacramento Kings
• 10. New Orleans Pelicans
• 11. Charlotte Hornets
• 12. San Antonio Spurs
• 13. Indiana Pacers
• 14. Golden State Warriors

Both the Warriors and Magic have two picks in the lottery.