On January 6th, Beijing time, the Thunder made a comeback against the Celtics to secure their 15th consecutive victory. In this game, the Celtics had a lead of up to 13 points in the first half, but were held to only 15 points in the third quarter by the Thunder's defense. The defending champions scored an even more surprising 12 points in the fourth quarter, and the Thunder won with a strong offensive and defensive performance in the second half.
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, defeated the Hornets 115-105, with the final quarter being garbage time. This might be the terrifying dominance of the league leaders, as the Cavaliers secured their 10th consecutive victory after this game.
Alexander faced the Celtics' defense (first in defensive efficiency), scoring 33 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in 38 minutes and 52 seconds, shooting 11 for 23, 3 for 6 from three-point range, and 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, with a true shooting percentage of 62.2%. He outperformed Tatum, who had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist, and Brown, who had 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
SGA's MVP odds are currently at 34.7%, while Jokic's MVP odds are at 48.8%. SGA is about to face a crucial battle that could determine his MVP odds, with his next opponent being the Cavaliers. The two teams will meet for the first time this season on January 9th, with the Western Conference leader facing the Eastern Conference leader.
The Thunder currently have a record of 30 wins and 5 losses, ranking first in the West with a 15-game winning streak, and they are undefeated against Eastern Conference teams with an 11-0 record.
The Cavaliers currently have a record of 31 wins and 4 losses, with a 10-game winning streak, and they are undefeated against Western Conference teams with a 10-0 record. The first meeting between these two teams this season will end the unbeaten rule of one team against their respective divisions.
The loss to the Bucks in the cup final does not count towards the regular season record for the Thunder, so they remain undefeated against Eastern Conference teams. If SGA leads the Thunder to defeat the Cavaliers, he will directly close the gap in victories with the league leaders. With the advantage of wins and losses, the Thunder will become the new league leaders, and at that time, SGA's MVP odds will surpass Jokic to become the highest in the league.
Written by Yan Xiaobai: Thunder Watch