• No. 1 in the East vs. No. 1 in the West.
• The best offense (Cleveland) vs. the best defense (Oklahoma City).
• No. 1 and 2 in points difference and net rating.
• The Thunder entered the evening with a 15-game winning streak. The Cavs were on a 10-game winning streak.
• For the first time, a team with a 15-game winning streak played against an opponent with a 10-game winning streak.
• It was also the first interconference game in NBA history between teams with a winning percentage of .850 or better so late in the season.

It was a 48-minute playoff-level battle with 30 lead changes and eight ties. The entire game was played in single digits, in a loud building where every possession became precious – exactly the test the Cavs wanted.

You passed.

Again.

Even though the Cavs trailed after the first quarter for only the second time all season, this resilient team never wavered in their belief. They stepped up their game and quickly regained control in the second quarter, outscoring OKC 37-27 over the next 12 minutes despite little help from likely All-Star and team leader Donovan Mitchell.

Chased all night by tenacious defender Lu Dort, it took until the 1:53 mark of the second quarter for Mitchell to score his first points – two free throws.

Mitchell’s first basket came a little later.

With the crowd on its feet and the shot clock ticking down in the final seconds of the first half, Mitchell drove past the burly Dort and scored a hanging two-handed dunk that put the exclamation point on a thrilling half – and gave Cleveland a three-point lead Entering the changing room.

Then came the fireworks in the third quarter.

Oklahoma City stormed to 43 points, only the third time this year an opponent reached the 40-point mark against Cleveland’s stingy defense. The Cavs nearly matched that performance with 41 goals of their own, only the fifth time the dirty Thunder allowed an opponent to exceed the 40-point threshold.

At the end of the first 36 minutes, the two teams were separated by just one point, exactly what many expected going into the evening. With 7:14 left in the fourth quarter, the Cavs extended their lead to a game-high seven points for the first time. Even though the tested Thunder got within two points a few times, including at the two-minute mark, Cleveland continued to make crucial plays down the stretch.

In a one-possession game that ramped things up, the Cavs, leaning on their two-big frontfield, grabbed four straight offensive rebounds and scored three points on one drive. Then came a runner from Darius Garland, who extended the lead back to seven.

That was the dagger. And Garland knew it. He roared as Oklahoma City called a timeout, then shoved his teammates in the chest as he confidently strolled toward the bench.

Cleveland was led by Jarrett Allen, who finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Evan Mobley contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds. Garland added 18 points and seven assists to join Mitchell in the All-Star Game in San Francisco. Mitchell struggled throughout, collecting just 11 points on 3-of-16 from the field. Ty Jerome added 15 off the bench.

The Thunder got 31 points from MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander despite struggling with foul trouble throughout. Jalen Williams scored 25 points, nine assists and five boards.

Before the game, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson compared the match to playing in the NCAA Tournament. The buzz. The hype. The excitement. The tension.

Wednesday evening was tough. The construction was justified. Forget market size. Forget reviews. Forget all these secondary factors. Cavs-Thunder delivered.

Who wouldn’t sign up? The in June?

Next

The Cavs host the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night for the second night in a row. The meeting point is scheduled for 7 p.m