The Cavaliers arrived in Oklahoma City on Thursday boasting the best record in the NBA, but by the time the final buzzer sounded, they looked nothing like the juggernaut that had captured the league’s attention.

Here are three compelling storylines for the highly anticipated rematch. Cleveland's bonified superstar is undoubtedly Donovan Mitchell. Unfortunately, he had his worst game of the year in the Cavalier's first matchup with the Thunder.

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thriller on Wednesday night, coming away with a 129-122 victory at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. T

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault credited Cavs’ Jarrett Allen for his dominating performance leading Donovan Mitchell and the team in Wednesday’s loss. Following one of the more entertaining games between two small-market teams, a reporter asked Gilgeous-Alexander about its significance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points and eight assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114 in a matchup of teams with the best records in the NBA.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to an easy home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 20-point loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday that left the teams tied for the best record in the NBA at 34-6. Cleveland trailed by as many as 42 points in the game and G Donovan Mitchell had a season-low eight points.

“Executives from three franchises told The Athletic that Cleveland has expressed interest in acquiring 6-foot-8 forward Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets — one of the most coveted players league-wide in the trade market — with the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline fast approaching,” The Athletic’s Joe Vardon wrote Friday morning.

Only three more quarters stand between the Thunder and the win they were favored to collect coming into this evening. They have a bit of a cushion as they currently lead the Cavaliers 32-14. The Thunder entered the matchup having won three straight and they're just three quarters away from another.

The first Cavaliers-Thunder matchup was one of the games of the year, Cleveland winning at home. The rematch was less exciting, OKC winning a blowout.

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.