OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction and Betting Tips | Jan. 8, 2025

The most anticipated game of the NBA season so far is set to take place in Wednesday's OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers matchup. Both teams enter the contest with double-digit winning streaks and sit atop their respective conferences.

Here’s a detailed preview of the OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers game, which will tip off at 7 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Preview and Odds

Moneyline: Thunder (+114) vs Cavaliers (-135)

Spread: Thunder +2.5 (-115) vs Cavaliers -2.5 (-105)

Total (O/U): Thunder o227.5 (-105) vs Cavaliers u227.5 (-115)

Editor's note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers preview

This exciting matchup pits two dominant teams from their respective conferences against each other. The Thunder boast an undefeated 11-0 record against Eastern Conference teams, while the Cavaliers are 10-0 against Western Conference opponents.

The Thunder come into this game after impressive victories over Eastern Conference powerhouses. They overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 117-107, followed by a suffocating defensive effort to beat the Boston Celtics 105-92, limiting Boston to just 27 second-half points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been instrumental in the Thunder’s success, scoring 33 points in each of the last two games. OKC currently leads the NBA in net rating (12.1), thanks to their top-ranked defense (102.7 defensive rating), and they’re riding a 15-game winning streak.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are on a 10-game winning streak, with every victory coming by a double-digit margin. Cleveland’s offense, led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland — each averaging over 20 points and 4.5 assists per game — is the best in the league (121.3 offensive rating).

The Cavs also lead the league in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, true shooting and effective field goal percentage. They rank second in net rating, just behind OKC.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers predicted starting lineups

For the Thunder, Chet Holmgren (hip), Alex Caruso (hip), Nikola Topic (knee) and Ajay Mitchell (toe) are all out. Ousmane Dieng, Adam Flagler and Dillon Jones are assigned to the G League.

For the Cavaliers, Sam Merrill (ankle) and Isaac Okoro (shoulder) are both questionable. Emoni Bates, JT Thor and Luke Travers are also out due to G League assignments.

Thunder

G - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | G - Cason Wallace | F - Lu Dort | F - Jalen Williams | C - Isaiah Hartenstein

Cavaliers

G - Darius Garland | G - Donovan Mitchell | F - Dean Wade | F - Evan Mobley | C - Jarret Allen

Editor's note: These are the predicted lineups and could change based on the availability of players.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers betting props

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score under 32.5 points is -113 on BetNJ. Bet on the under.
• Donovan Mitchell scoring over 22.5 points is -109 on BetNJ. Expect him to clear this.

---

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers prediction

This game is expected to be tightly contested. While the Thunder will be without key defensive players like Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren, their defense has remained exceptional. The Cavaliers’ offense, however, is just as potent.

Both teams are known for elevating their performance in the second half, often overwhelming their opponents. Given the Thunder’s challenging schedule during their winning streak, this might be the game where their luck runs out.

The Cavaliers' offensive firepower may be too much for the Thunder to contain, especially without Caruso and Holmgren. We predict a Cavaliers victory.