Any player underneath the rim, he showed love to them, too.  Hartenstein included.  Allen was forceful, slamming what felt like every one of his shots and snagging Cleveland’s late-game chances with his long arms.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had their franchise-best 15-game win streak snapped in a 129-122 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. A historic matchup of the league's best two teams delivered. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with an efficient 31 points.

Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Oklahoma City’s 15-game winning streak by beating the Thunder 129-122 in a marquee meeting between the NBA’s top two teams.

Jarrett Allen collected 25 points and 12 rebounds to lift the host Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in a battle of the top two teams in the NBA.

Injuries in Dallas, drama in Miami and a superstar returning for the Clippers impact the latest ranking of all 30 NBA teams.

It’s Wednesday, January 8, and the best teams in the NBA tip off tonight in Cleveland as the Oklahoma City Thunder (30-5) ride into town to take on the Cavaliers (31-4).

Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, and the host Cavaliers ended Oklahoma City’s 15-game winning streak by beating the Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday night.

The Cavs extended their winning streak to 11, improved the league’s best record to 32-4 — 11-0 against the West — and moved to 19-1 at home.

There is a lot of average basketball being played in the NBA’s regular season. Do not get me wrong: Average for this league is pretty damn good. But 11 teams are within two games of .500. You wonder who is winning.

Oklahoma City's recent wins against the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have catapulted the Thunder to championship contenders in the eyes of national media members.