Cleveland Cavaliers vs OKC Thunder player stats and box score for Jan. 8 | 2024-25 NBA season

The Cleveland Cavaliers versus OKC Thunder was a much-anticipated matchup between the two best teams in the 2024-25 NBA season. Both teams entered this duel hoping to make a statement and show who was the best team in the association.

Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse saw Donovan Mitchell lead the Cavaliers while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the dangerous Thunder.

A collective effort willed Cleveland to the 129-122 win, improving to 32-4 (19-1 at home) this season while the Thunder dropped to 30-6 after a very entertaining matchup.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs OKC Thunder player stats and box score

Cleveland Cavaliers player stats and box score

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO
Dean Wade	11	3	1	0	0	2
Evan Mobley	21	10	7	1	1	3
Jarrett Allen	25	12	6	3	1	0
Darius Garland	18	1	7	0	0	2
Donovan Mitchell	11	6	4	0	0	1
Georges Niang	3	2	2	0	0	1
Isaac Okoro	0	0	1	1	0	0
Caris LeVert	8	2	2	0	0	0
Ty Jerome	15	2	1	2	0	3
Max Strus	17	3	5	0	0	3

OKC Thunder player stats and box score

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO
Jalen Williams	25	5	9	3	1	3
Isaiah Hartenstein	18	11	8	0	0	2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	31	5	4	3	5	5
Luguentz Dort	7	4	4	1	2	2
Cason Wallace	15	2	3	0	0	0
Jaylin Williams	3	2	2	0	0	0
Kenrich Williams	4	0	1	0	0	0
Isaiah Joe	8	7	3	2	0	0
Aaron Wiggins	11	2	1	0	0	1

Cleveland Cavaliers vs OKC Thunder game recap

The Cleveland Cavaliers versus OKC Thunder duel started with the home team going on a 6-0 run before the Thunder responded with five unanswered points to show how this game would unfold. The first quarter was favorable to the Thunder, as they took it 32-25, surprising the Cavs in front of their fans.

The second period started with the Cavs taking a 10-7 lead with 8:45 on the clock, cutting the lead to only four points (39-35) and forcing the Thunder to call a timeout.

Cleveland raised the bar and dominated the second quarter, winning it 37-27 and entering halftime up 62-59. The second period finished with a big two-hand dunk by Donovan Mitchell that sent everybody in the arena into a frenzy.

Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley led the Cavs in scoring with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 16 and 13 units, respectively.

Cavaliers and Thunder kept exchanging blows in the third quarter, posting the highest-scoring period of the game with 84 points combined (43-41 in favor of the Thunder). The final quarter was dominated by the Cavaliers again, despite being the lowest-scoring period of the game (26-20).

The home team completed a well-rounded performance that gave them their 32nd win of the season and the 19th at home.

Jarrett Allen scored 25 points to show the way for Cleveland, followed by Evan Mobley's 21 units. Darius Garland added 18 points and Donovan Mitchell and Dean Wade scored 11 units apiece, meaning the Cavs' starting five scored in double digits. Max Strus and Ty Jerome scored 17 and 15 points off the bench, respectively, to seal the deal.

Despite a 31-point effort by Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder couldn't keep up with the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.