Start 5, Jan. 17: OKC dominates ‘The Rematch’ against Cleveland

On By Littum

A thundering statement, with the whole hoops world watching.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION
17 January 2025

Thunder Strike: A decisive run and an emphatic dub in a battle for the NBA’s best

Shai Shines: Nothing new for the Kia MVP Ladder leader – “He’s like that every night”

Roundup Thursday: Book cooks while the Kings, Pacers and Clips stay hot

Friday Focus: Paolo’s Magic face Tatum’s Celtics, followed by Ja’s Grizz & Wemby’s Spurs

NBA All-Star Poll: Where do things stand with just four days left of fan voting?

BUT FIRST…
OKC had internet last night…


Triple Your All-Star Vote: It is one 3-to-1 day for All-Star Voting presented by AT&T, which means your vote counts three times on the NBA app or NBA.com with your NBA ID. Tap to vote now.

Efforts for emergency aid for wildfires: The entire NBA, NBPA, WNBA and WNBPA family sends its thoughts and support to the Los Angeles community during this challenging time. To learn more, get help and/or support, visit NBA Cares.

  • Ballmer group provides $15 million in emergency aid to support wildfire-affected communities in LA See more details here

1. THUNDER RESPONSE IN “REMATCH” WITH A CLEARING DUB

last night, a thunderstorm rolled through the Paycom Center.

Eight days after Seeing their franchise-record 15-game streak end in Cleveland, the Thunder retaliated in “The Rematch” with a blow strong enough to reverberate throughout the NBA.

Thunder 134, Cavaliers 114: In a showdown between the two best teams in the league, the East-leading Cavs jumped out to a 12-10 lead. But from there it was all OKC.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ignited a 30-2 Thunder run to take control as the West leaders entered the half up 75-49 and never looked back after an emphatic victory on their home court. | Recap

  • Right at the top: With the win, OKC and Cleveland both move to 34-6 on the season – tied for the best record in the NBA
  • Shai Shines: Gilgeous-Alexander finished with one game height 40 points (17-26 FG), eight assists and two steals in just 29 minutes as both teams rested their starters in the 4th quarter
  • Rolling Thunder: OKC led by as many as 42 points and earned its 19th win in 20 games while handing Cleveland its first loss to a Western opponent this season
  • “It’s the cream of the crop,” said SGA after the win. “You judge yourself against the best to find out where you are … Tonight we tested ourselves and I think we passed.”

Lightning Strike: After giving up 129 points to Cleveland’s top-rated offense last week, OKC’s top-rated defense came out swarming in Round 2, holding the Cavs to a season-low 14 points in the 1st quarter to spark a dominant all-around performance.

  • Suffocation: The league leader in FG% and 3P%, Cleveland was held below its season averages in both categories by OKC while committing a season-high 21 turnovers
  • Silent: Darius Garland led Cleveland with 20 points, while Donovan Mitchell was held to a season-low eight
  • Score: On the other end, Lu Dort posted season-highs in points (22) and 3s (6), while Jalen Williams (19 pts) and three other Thunder joined SGA in double figures

Dominance: With the impressive win, the Thunder are now on pace to become the first team in NBA history with a +13.0 point differential.

  • 2024-25 Thunder: 1 p.m
  • 1971-72 Lakers: 12.28 (Won NBA Finals)
  • 1970-71 dollars: 12.26 (Won NBA Finals)
  • 1995-96 Bulls: 12.24 (Won NBA Finals)

2. THE SHAI SHOW: BIG STAGE, BIGGER STATEMENT

Now it is the 16th team in NBA history to total 34+ wins through 40 games, three letters have become synonymous with success in OKC – SGA.

last night, with eyes across the league on “The Rematch,” SGA made its case to add three more letters to his name – MVP.

And only him took 29 minutes to do it.

  • In the 1st quarter, SGA singlehandedly outscored Cleveland 15-14
  • At the break, he had 26 points – his most in a half all season while cruising to his 10th straight 25+ point game.
  • When he subbed out for well after the 3rd, his night had taken the hoops world by storm…

Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Thunder or SuperSonics player in franchise history to drop 40 points in under 30 minutes.

  • “40 in 3“ Jalen Williams said after the game, naming the SGA for Kia MVP.

Thursday was no coming out party for the Kia MVP Ladder leader. He has been working all season.

  • Buckets in bulk: SGA now leads the NBA with 24 games with 30 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo (21) is the only other player with more than 17
  • And 30 pcs has become the norm for Gilgeous-Alexander as he has 15 in the Thunder’s last 20 games – 19 of which have been doubles
  • But Thursday may have been the sweetest of them all – hit 4-0 in just 3 quarters
  • “It’s always Shai,” Lu Dort said of SGA’s outburst. “He always goes up for the big moments, especially in big games like that.”

Only two players in NBA history to average 30+ points and 2+ steals in consecutive seasons – Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan. SGA is on track to become the third.

And last night, he joined Jordan in frozen air.

  • Scores and swipes: On Thursday, SGA became the second player to record 1,200+ points and 80+ steals in the first 40 games of multiple seasons
    The first player? MJ (7 seasons)
  • All-Around Excellence: SGA on pace to become only the second player ever to average 30+ points on 50% shooting along with 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 2+ steals and 1+ blocks
  • Who would he join? You guessed it – Michael Jordan (1987-88 & 1990-91)

3. THURSDAY ROUNDUP: SURGING SQUADS STACK MORE Ws

SGA wasn’t the only star shining Thursday as several Playoff contenders found their groove.

Suns 130, Wizards 123: Devin Booker posted his fourth straight 30 with a healthy 37, while Kevin Durant added 23 to earn a wire-to-wire win over the Wizards, marking the Suns’ fourth win in five games. | Recap

Kings 132, Rockets 127: DeMar DeRozan poured in 33 points as the Kings outlasted Jalen Green (28 pts) and the Rockets to snap their five-game winning streak. Sacramento is now 8-1 in their last nine games. | Recap

Pacers 111, Pistons 100: Myles Turner (28) and Pascal Siakam (26) combined for 54 points as the Pacers improved to 8-2 in their last 10 with a dub over Cade Cunningham (20 pts, 9 ast) and Detroit. | Recap

Clippers 118, Blazers 89: Norman Powell (23 pts) led six Clippers in double figures as LA never managed to get its third straight W. | Recap

4. ESPN DOUBLEHEADER TONIGHT: PAOLO’S MAGIC VS. TATUM’S CELTICS, JA’S GRIZZ VS. WEMBY’S LANES

Two elite playmaking forwards with common roots meet tonight when Jayson Tatum and the Celtics host Paolo Banchero and the Magic (7 ET, ESPN).

Both resigned from Duke at age 19, Tatum was selected third overall by Boston in 2017, five years before Banchero was selected first overall by Orlando – with Tatum as a mentor along the way.

  • “He has been a great help for me since I first got to Duke,” Banchero said last season on Tatum. “He’s a great player. He’s done everything I want … I’m a sponge so I’m trying to learn as much as I can.”

That guidance pays off. Granted, Banchero is only eight games into his third season, but his 2024-25 numbers have a slight edge over Tatum’s Year 3 stats:

Both big and athletic shot makers, the two stars can each score in a multitude of ways.

  • Beyond The Arc: This season, Banchero and Tatum are two of four non-guards averaging 27+ points while hitting 2+ 3s per game. game, joining Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokić
  • At the edge: They also both use their strength and athleticism to get to the cup, averaging 9+ points in the paint per game. game and 7+ points from drives

But they score the bulk of their points in various areas.

  • JT’s range: Both players are 3-point threats, but Tatum makes his money from deep, with 51.7% of his attempts coming from beyond the arc
  • Deep Impact: Among players averaging 27+ points, Tatum is second in both 3-point attempts (10.3) and makes (3.7) per game.
  • Paolo’s precision: Meanwhile, 66.4% of Banchero’s shots are 2s and he shoots 51.8% from mid-range
  • Midrange Mastery: That’s the third-highest midrange percentage of the 16 NBA players averaging 25+ ppg, behind only KD and SGA

Banchero’s versatility turning heads across the league. After his 30-point comeback against Milwaukee last week, Giannis Antetokounmpo had high praise for the rising star:

  • “He’s a great player, Giannis said. “A guy who can operate from all three levels. Big, can defend, he does the little things that his team needs to win games…
  • “Obviously, Orlando is a very, very dangerous team.”

Now a half game back of the Bucks for the 4th seed in the East, Banchero and the Magic aim to make a primetime statement against Tatum and the defending champions.

In the second leg of ESPN’s doubleheader, Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama will duel for the second time in three days when the Spurs host the Grizzlies (9:30 a.m. ET).

  • Wemby’s Block Party: In Wednesday’s matchup, Wemby was a force inside, recording eight blocks in the first half – a feat not achieved since November 2018 (Mitchell Robinson)
  • Dive deeper: “What the hell are you going to do to this guy,” asks David Hollinger in The Athleticin a piece about how a defensive youth movement is rising in the league
  • Morant’s rebuttal: Despite Wemby’s defensive masterclass, the Grizzlies pulled out the win, 129-115, behind Morant’s double-double (21 pts, 12 ast)
  • Ja’s viral moment: It didn’t count, but Morant broke the internet with a dunk on Wemby after the whistle – providing the latest viral moment between the two walking highlight reels

What a superstar will take our breath away tonight?

Seven more games starting Friday on League Passstarting with Anthony Edwards and the Wolves facing a red-hot Jalen Brunson and the Knicks at MSG (7:30 ET).

5. ALL-STAR VOTING: THE THIRD FAN RETURNS AND WHAT’S NEXT

Only four days left for fans to vote for the 2025 All-Star starters on the NBA app or NBA.com using their NBA ID, and on Thursday, the third and final fan return was revealed.

At the top: For the third consecutive week, Giannis Antetokounmpo (East Frontcourt) and Nikola Jokić (West Frontcourt) lead their respective conferences in voting, while SGA (West Guard) and LaMelo Ball (East Guard) join them atop their respective position groups .

On the way up: Jarrett Allen joined the East frontcourt, with Evan Mobley jumping two spots. Meanwhile, their teammate, Darius Garland, climbed another spot among the East guards. Out West, LeBron James bumped up a spot to No. 2 in the frontcourt.

Triple your vote: Fans with NBA IDs account for 50% of the vote to determine the starters for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game (with current NBA players and a media panel each accounting for 25%), and Friday marks a “3- to-1-day” ” where fan votes count three times – click here to submit your ballot.

Next: After voting closes on Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET, TNT will reveal the NBA All-Star Game starters on Thursday (7 ET).

NBA All-Star 2025 takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area on the 14th-16th February. Below are a few key events to circle on your calendar.

  • Friday, February 14: Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (7 ET, ESPN)
  • Friday, February 14: Castrol Rising Stars (9 ET, TNT/TruTV)
  • Saturday 15 February: State Farm All-Star Saturday Night: Kia Skills Challenge, Starry 3-Point Contest, AT&T Slam Dunk (8 ET, TNT/TruTV)
  • Sunday 16 February: 74th NBA All-Star Game (8 ET, TNT/TruTV)