The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks went toe to toe on Friday in the American Airlines Center and once again proved that these two teams have no love lost between them - They are the next great NBA rivalry.

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Only one more quarter stands 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 75-49. The Thunder entered the game having won three straight and they're just one quarter away from another.

The Thunder put Thursday night's showdown with the Cavs out of reach by halftime and led by as many as 42 points in a 134-114 home win Thursday night.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game from January 16, 2025 on ESPN.

It’ll be interesting to see which identity is able to better sustain success once the postseason is here. Throw in the possibility of a rematch in the NBA Finals, and how either team adjusts away from its identity could be the difference between winning it all or being disappointed by season’s end.