The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers both got off to a good start to their respective 2023-24 NBA campaigns, but which of them will begin the season with a 2-0 record?

Catch this game live on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 7:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0/1-0 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SG: Josh Giddey
  • SF: Luguentz Dort
  • PF: Jalen Williams
  • C: Chet Holmgren

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder sent a strong message to the rest of the league right from the get-go of the 2023-24 season by hammering the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in a 124-104 road win. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Bolts with 31 points on 12/18 shooting, but it’s really OKC’s unselfishness that showed the team to a win. The Thunder had 45 field goals made on 30 assists. 

Not only were they finding their sweet spots with ball movement but they also consistently hit their shots, particularly from deep, as they went 19/39 on their 3-pointers. Oklahoma’s defense was also notable in the Chicago game as well, and the Thunder could carry that form on that end of the floor to the meeting with the Cavs. The Bulls shot just 41.5 FG% versus the Thunder, who also held Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to a combined 13/36 shooting. 

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Home: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0/0-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Darius Garland (Questionable)
  • SG: Donovan Mitchell
  • SG: Max Strus
  • SF: Isaac Okoro
  • PF: Evan Mobley

When under duress, call Donovan Mitchell’s number. That plan worked out just fine for the Cavs in their season opener against the Brooklyn Nets on the road on Thursday, with the high-flying guard stepping up in the clutch to lead Cleveland to a 114-113 victory. Mitchell finished with 27 points on 11/21 shooting with six assists and four steals. 

It would be so interesting to see him go up against Gilgeous-Alexander, and playing at home might give Mitchell at least a slight edge over the Thunder star. But don’t sleep on team newcomer Max Strus, who went off for 27 points in his Cavs debut on the strength of a franchise record-setting seven 3-pointers for a player appearing in his first game in Cleveland colors. The Cavs have the firepower to keep up and outlast OKC in a shootout and the defense to survive in a grind. Last season, Cleveland led the league with a 110.4 adjusted defensive rating.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Cavs (-3.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (225.5) this the Under.

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