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Coast-to-Coast: Cavs cool off Thunder in battle of conference leaders; Pistons win fifth straight

Published January 9, 2025, 2:30 PMPao Ambat
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For the second time this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 11 straight games while improving to 11-0 against Western Conference foes.

Jarrett Allen and the Cleveland Cavaliers are now 19-1 at home while the Detroit Pistons posted their first five-game winning streak in six years. | Photo Cavaliers, Pistons

Lived up to the billing. 

The most anticipated regular season clash did not disappoint as the Cleveland Cavaliers ended the Oklahoma City Thunder’s historic 15-game winning run in an epic clash. 

CAVS TOPPLE THUNDER; PISTONS STAY ON POINT 

  • Cleveland Cavaliers (32-4) def. OKC Thunder (30-6), 129-122: In a game that saw eight lead changes and 30 ties, the Cavaliers extended their winning run to 11 games while snapping the Thunder’s 15-game winning streak.

[ALSO READ: In a potential NBA Finals preview, Cavs outlast Thunder to snap OKC’s 15-game winning run]

  • Indiana Pacers (20-18) def. Chicago Bulls (17-20), 129-113: Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Tyrese Haliburton added a 16-point, 13-assist double-double for the Pacers’ second win of the season over the Bulls. 

  • Philadelphia 76ers (15-20) def. Washington Wizards (6-29), 109-103: The Sixers survived a late Wizards uprising to clinch their second victory in the last three games. 

  • Detroit Pistons (19-18) def. Brooklyn Nets (13-24), 113-98: The Pistons strung five straight wins for the first time since the 2018-19 season after grounding the Nets. 

GIANNIS BECOMES BUCKS’ ALL-TIME DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADER 

  • Milwaukee Bucks (19-16) def. San Antonio Spurs (18-19), 121-105: Giannis Antetokounmpo overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the Bucks’ all-time leader in double-doubles in a 16-point romp of the Spurs.

[ALSO READ: Antetokounmpo passes Abdul-Jabbar as Milwaukee double-double leader in Bucks rout of Spurs]

  • New York Knicks (25-13) def. Toronto Raptors (8-29), 112-98: OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns fired 27 markers each to help the Knicks end a three-game skid at the Raptors’ expense. 

  • Denver Nuggets (21-15) def. LA Clippers (20-17), 126-103: Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook picked up the slack in the absence of superstar Nikola Jokic in a commanding Nuggets crushing of the Clippers. 

  • Portland Trail Blazers (13-23) def. New Orleans Pelicans (7-31), 119-100: Deni Avdija led the charge with 26 points in a bounce-back Trail Blazers decision.