Cleveland end Oklahoma City’s 15-game win streak in clash of NBA’s top teams

Jarrett Allen collected 25 points and 12 rebounds to lift the host Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in a battle of the two best teams in the NBA.

Evan Mobley contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight and improved to 11-0 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City rode a franchise record 15 games into this game.

Cleveland’s Darius Garland scored 18 points and Max Strus sank five 3-pointers to highlight his 17-point performance off the bench. Ty Jerome had 15 points and Donovan Mitchell finished with 11, despite making just three of 16 shots from the floor for the Cavaliers.

Oklahoma City superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Jalen Williams added 25, plus nine assists.

Isaiah Hartenstein had 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Cason Wallace scored 15 points for the Thunder, who had not lost since Dec. 1 at the Houston Rockets. They fall to 11-1 against Eastern Conference foes.

Cleveland clung to a 125-122 lead before successfully challenging a foul on Mitchell with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter. Officials believed Mitchell did not make enough contact to warrant a foul while competing for a rebound, allowing his team to keep the ball.

Mobley made a running jumper in the lane and Garland added a finger roll layup with 27.1 seconds left to seal the win.

Oklahoma City weathered the storm after Gilgeous-Alexander committed two quick fouls to start the third quarter, giving him four for the game. The Thunder held the fort and even tied the game at 100-100 on Aaron Wiggins’ tip shot with 47 seconds left in the quarter.

Kenrich Williams’ jumper gave Oklahoma City a 34-25 lead early in the second quarter before Cleveland responded with an 8-0 run. The Thunder maintained the advantage for the second before Allen converted an alley-oop.

Mitchell made his first field goal with an emphatic dunk to give the Cavaliers a 62-59 lead at intermission.