CLEVELAND -- After the Cavaliers earned their 11th straight victory Wednesday night with a thrilling 129-122 triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder in what was the most anticipated game of the regular season to date, Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson walked into the locker room and received a message from his players.
"The players said, 'We don't win this game last year,'" Atkinson said.
There were plenty of reasons why. Donovan Mitchell, the franchise's cornerstone, shot 3-for-16. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who combined for 46 points and 22 rebounds, were ferocious inside, repeatedly fighting off multiple Thunder defenders to secure offensive rebounds, or flying over them to throw down easy dunks.