As we approach the halfway point of the regular season, three NBA teams stand out as true contenders. That doesn’t mean all three will be in the conference finals, nor does it mean that another squad won’t be in the mix. But right now, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be a step ahead of everyone else.

The Thunder and Cavs faced off on Wednesday night, with both combining to win 25 straight games (15 straight for the Thunder, 10 for the Cavs), and the Cavs took care of business, extending their winning streak with a 129-122 -Victory.

These are encounters that may also provide some crucial clues as to who will face each other in June. The Thunder defeated the Celtics on Sunday night – somewhat convincingly – and provided a delicious subplot to this big matchup.

Here are some key takeaways from Wednesday night’s game that could prove important moving forward:

SGA understands its responsibility

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the league’s best players and an MVP candidate, once again showcased the combination of his 6-foot-10 frame, patient offensive mind and superior court vision to continually test Cleveland’s defense . He finished with 31 points on 13 of 27 shooting.

The 26-year-old is one of the league’s most productive and fluid two-way stars and seems almost bound to average 30 or more points over the next few years given his fundamental solidity and shooting in the flow of the offense.

However, when the Thunder go through offensive droughts, Gilgeous-Alexander will occasionally step out of the offense and play his own number on consecutive possessions, which is, after all, the role of a superstar. Against the Cavs, where the lead was constantly changing, the All-NBA guard decided to take matters into his own hands.

Cavs utilize depth

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has reduced the minutes of his starters, with only Donovan Mitchell cracking 31 per game. Atkinson relies on depth: Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Georges Niang and Ty Jerome play significant minutes off the bench, while he is considered legitimate offensive players who create space on the court.

Strus was a constant outside presence throughout the game, hitting five three-pointers and scoring 17 points, proving once again how important his return is to Cleveland’s chances at the Finals. Strus missed the first 28 games of the season and has now returned to the lineup, where his shooting often serves as glue between the Cavs’ four stars.

OKC could really use Chet Holmgren

The Thunder miss Chet Holmgren, period. While Isaiah Hartenstein did an admirable job – as you’d expect from someone making $30 million this season – Holmgren’s presence would have drastically changed the dynamics of Oklahoma City’s interior game as they faced Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

That’s not to say Hartenstein didn’t play well. He did it, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, clogging up the paint well defensively and swinging the ball efficiently. His speedy 7-foot frame and sneaky athleticism remain the Thunder’s biggest defensive assets on the interior. Needless to say, he doesn’t have the same caliber of floor defender as Holmgren, meaning there’s a wrinkle in the matchup between these two teams that we didn’t get to see.

The two teams play again on January 16th, and while Holmgren increases his physical activity, it remains to be seen whether he will be available that day. Even if he were, he would most likely only play on a limited basis.

Evan Mobley stands up

Evan Mobley remains the X-factor for Cleveland. When he’s active at the rim, fighting for rebounds and second-chance points, he puts a tremendous amount of pressure on opponents. If he’s trying to create too much at the rim and dribble too much, those are possessions that won’t go through the hands of Mitchell and Darius Garland.

Mobley, who scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had seven assists, had a career season, but his offense is sure to take another leap in the coming years. He’s currently sharing the offensive load with some big hitters, but there are shots he can chase down over the course of a game that are available to him if he wants them. As a 7-footer with strong ball-handling skills, the sky is truly the limit for him. But he has to look for it.

All Star Jalen Williams?

Jalen Williams is the best player in the league that no one outside of Thunder fans really talks about. The 6-5 Swiss Army Knife plays up to four positions, averages 20.6 points on the season and serves as a secondary creator who often goes under the radar.

Williams, who finished the game with 25 points and nine assists, got off to a hot start, scoring seven points and grabbing three rebounds in the first five minutes as he looked to set the tone. His wide, physical body absorbs contact, allowing him to finish plays in traffic, giving the Thunder a notable hitting presence to take pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander.

Because the Thunder are so good, it’s hard to argue against Williams as a true All-Star candidate this season. Some people may cite even more striking numbers, but when it comes to impact, Williams makes a strong case.

Donovan Mitchell takes it easy

Donovan Mitchell is obviously saving himself for the postseason. His 23.3 scoring average is modest for his level, but it seems like it’s by design. Mitchell spent years posting ridiculously high batting averages in Utah and his first two seasons in Cleveland, only to retire and rely more on the wealth of talent on the roster.

But that doesn’t mean Mitchell isn’t still as potent a scorer as he was before. The Thunder clearly circled him in their game plan, rotating Gilgeous-Alexander and second-year guard Cason Wallace on him. He started terribly, going 0-for-6 until he scored his first points with 1:53 left in the first half. He finished 3 of 16 games from the floor with 11 points and will undoubtedly be looking for a better start when these two teams face off again.

Darius Garland is back

Despite posting a modest 18 points and seven assists, Garland played an outstanding game and continued to bounce back from a down year last season. The 6-2 lead guard is one of the most efficient scoring guards in the NBA, but what’s notable is that the game has slowed down for him. In the past, he often tried to force the issue by taking rash shots and making questionable decisions with the ball. But this season, Garland has played the point guard role beautifully under Atkinson while taking full advantage of Cleveland’s fast-paced offense.

It seems increasingly likely that Garland’s optimized forward role should always be tailored to a fast-paced offense where he can set the tone, dictate the tempo and make quick shots off the dribble, be it from three or on the way to the cup. Garland is only playing 30 minutes per game this season and that allows the former All-Star to do his best in the minutes he is on the court. For a man who was caught up in trade rumors last June, this was a huge turn in his story. Garland finding new life in Cleveland under a new head coach is a large part of the reason the Cavs are as dominant as they have been this season.

SGA very similar to MJ?

During last year’s NBA playoffs, many media outlets were busy comparing Minnesota shooting guard Anthony Edwards to Michael Jordan. But are we sure Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t the more appropriate player for this comparison?

The sheer amount of movement and counter-movement in Gilgeous-Alexander’s arsenal is reminiscent of Jordan’s advanced footwork and approach in the mid-post. The turnaround fadeaways, the mid-range pull-ups, the up-and-unders and the relentlessness with which he attacks the rim while contorting his body in a variety of ways seem to highlight Gilgeous-Alexander as a potentially better example to compare to Jordan .

Jarrett Allen is up to the challenge

Allen remains criminally underestimated. The 7-foot center is often referred to as a rim runner, but it’s his overall presence in the post that stands out. His keen understanding of timing, when to roll, when to back up and when to duck into the dunker spot is an important offensive component for Cleveland. The former All-Star had an efficient 15 points, six rebounds and four assists at halftime, finishing the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and continually reminding viewers that he is one of the best two-player centers in the NBA.

Allen is converting nearly 70% from the field this season, and that’s due to the fact that 91.9% of his shots come from within 10 feet of the basket, giving the Cavs an elite play-finishing component that allowing Mobley to move freely on offense.

What does thunder need?

The Thunder could stand to make more moves at the trade deadline. The Cavs have had some success attacking the zone, forcing the Thunder to face the reality that while they have solid shooters, they don’t have big zone busters who can space the floor consistently. That’s not to say they need a chucker, but if they can find a guy who’s constantly willing to shoot the catch without a conscience, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.