OKLAHOMA CITY — A rematch between the NBA's two biggest heavyweights ended with an early elimination.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114 at home on Thursday night, a final score that only hinted at what the Thunder can do in a thrilling Jan. 8 matchup between two of the NBA's best-record teams. How powerful it is to avenge a loss.

In the last game, the Cavaliers won 129-122. This game took the lead 30 times and the winner was not decided until the last minute. The Thunder put this game out of reach at halftime when the Thunder led by 26 points, Cleveland's largest deficit of the season.

In the third quarter, the lead grew to 42 points before the bench vacated.

"They imposed their will in every aspect," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said after the Cavaliers fell to 34-6, tying the Thunder's record. "We knew it was coming. We knew their power was coming. That's their identity. They imposed their identity. It was an avalanche and we never responded."

Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander single-handedly led the Cavaliers 15-14 in the first quarter and scored 40 points in just 29 minutes. He became the first player in Thunder/SuperSonics history to score 40 points in less than 30 minutes, hitting 17 of 26 shots and dishing out eight assists, according to ESPN Research.

"I'm just playing basketball, it's the game I love," Gilgeous-Alexander said, downplaying the notion that a recent loss to the Cavaliers provided extra motivation. "I work hard. Try to give it my all in the game and see where it takes me."

Oklahoma City's top-ranked defense did little to help the league's most efficient offense, and just eight days later, Cleveland became the Thunder's highest-scoring opponent of the season.

"It felt like there were seven pit bulls there. Not five," Atkinson said. "In a sense, they're grabbing the ball, reaching. Their speed and athleticism, they're kind of pushing us down. It's that simple. That's their calling card. They've done that against a lot of teams. They dominate every game. "

The Thunder held the Cavaliers to 49 points in the first half and forced 13 turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 22 points, nearly tying the Thunder's league lead of 23.2 points per game off turnovers in the half. level.

"That's our DNA," said Thunder star forward Jaylen Williams, who finished with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks in 30 minutes. "We've been trying to play hard. When we can get our communication and our core principles in the game - which we didn't do the first time we played them and be able to do that tonight - I think it’s difficult for the team.”

Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell struggled while being harassed by Thunder defensive back Lou Dort, scoring a season-low eight points on 3-for-15 shooting. Mitchell praised the Thunder as a "much stronger team mentally and physically" and said the blame for the Cavaliers' poor performance should start with him.

Dort also played an important role on the offensive end, scoring a season-high 22 points and making 6 of 9 three-pointers.

"They just set the tone," said Mitchell, who scored 11 points on 3-for-16 shooting in the most recent win over the Thunder. "We're not ready to play. Put that on me. As a leader, you have to set the tone. That's something I didn't do twice against this team. When you're a leader When you don’t, it trickles down.”

Although the Thunder were missing 7-foot duo Isaiah Hartenstein (calf strain) and Chet Holmgren (pelvic fracture), the Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen and Evan ·Mobley wasn't important in the Oklahoma City game.

Allen and Mobley combined for 18 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist, compared to 46 points, 21 rebounds and 13 assists in the last Contenders meeting. The Cavaliers played long stretches of garbage time without any big men on the floor, trying to match Oklahoma City's speed.

"Obviously, they're bigger than us and our whole goal is to play small, and they're going to try to play small but not have them on the floor at the same time," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I thought we did a really good job at that tonight. When the big guys brought the ball down, we got dirty, got the loose ball, helped each other, scrambled. We obviously started running and they had to do "With some changes, once the game scales down, that's pretty much our game, our style."