OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Chart for Jan. 8 | 2024-25 NBA Season

The OKC Thunder (30-5) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (31-4), NBA’s top 2 teams, face off on Wednesday. Oklahoma hopes to extend a 10-game winning streak and snap Cleveland’s 10-game winning run. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort will lead the Thunder.

The Cavaliers, who have not lost since mid-December, look to solidify their reign in the standings with a win. The Cavaliers will try to get the job done behind the No. 1 offensive rating in the league. Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley form the Cavs’ impressive core.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report

OKC Thunder injury report

Nikola Topic (knee surgery), Ajay Mitchell (toe sprain), Chet Holmgren (fracture), Alex Caruso (left hip strain) and Branden Carlson (released) are out.

Ousmane Dieng, Adam Flagler and Dillon Jones will not travel to Cleveland as they have been assigned to the G League.

Cleveland Cavaliers injury report

Isaac Okoro (shoulder sprain) and Sam Merrill (right ankle sprain) are questionable. JT Thor and Luke Travers are inactive because they have been sent to the G League.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineups and depth chart

OKC Thunder starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Cason Wallace	Isaiah Joe	Alex Ducas
Lu Dort	Aaron Wiggins
Jalen Williams	Kenrich Williams	Jaylin Williams
Isaiah Hartenstein

Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Darius Garland	Craig Porter Jr.
Donovan Mitchell	Caris LeVert	Ty Jerome
Dean Wade	Max Strus
Evan Mobley	Georges Niang	Tristan Thompson
Jarrett Allen

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Key Matchups

Jalen Williams vs Evan Mobley

6-foot-8 Jalen Williams plays power forward for the Thunder, which could be a problem against the Cavaliers. Cleveland employs a two-big frontline featuring Evan Mobley playing the No. 4 role.

Williams is the Thunder’s No. 2 option on offense and the go-to guy when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits down. Mobley isn’t as mobile as Williams, which favors the Oklahoma forward.

On the other end, keeping Mobley off the glass for rebounds, follow-up shots and lobs could pose a big problem for the Thunder. The two could cancel each other out, but it will be an interesting matchup.

Jarrett Allen vs Isaiah Hartenstein

Jarrett Allen and Isaiah Hartenstein are the unsung stars of their teams. Both are inside operators who gobble rebounds and relish contact in the paint. The Allen-Hartenstein battle will be a bruising one that fans will enjoy.

Donovan Mitchell vs Lu Dort

One of the NBA’s best scorers against one of the league’s most unrelenting and skilled defenders is a salivating matchup. Oklahoma has the best defensive rating in the NBA by a wide margin. If the Thunder can put the lid on Mitchell behind Dort, OKC is likely to win the contest.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Darius Garland

How Darius Garland holds up against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could determine the winner of the OKC Thunder’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. SGA, who has been nearly unguardable this season, caon hurt the Cavs with his playmaking and scoring. Garland, who is not known for his defense, must step up.