The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers are the top two teams in the NBA right now, making this matchup one of the most highly anticipated games in recent regular-season history.

The game is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, and it’s not out of the question that we might see these two teams face off again in the Finals.

The Cavaliers currently lead with an impressive record of 31 wins and 4 losses, while the Thunder follow closely with 30 wins and 5 losses. Cleveland ranks first in offense and seventh in defense. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is at the top defensively and holds the eighth spot in offense.

Oklahoma City comes into this game on a 15-game winning streak, while Cleveland has secured ten straight victories.

Both teams boast outstanding guards: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder, who was the runner-up for last season’s MVP award, averages 31.3 points, 6.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks, shooting 52.4% overall, 36% from three-point range, and 88.8% on free throws. Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers puts up an average of 23.3 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, with shooting percentages of 45.7%, 41.3% from beyond the arc, and 81.5% from the free-throw line.

However, this game will showcase more than just individual talent as both squads are deep and well-rounded.

When is the Cavaliers vs. Thunder game?

• The game kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 8, starting around 7 p.m. ET.

Where is the Cavaliers vs. Thunder game taking place?

• The game will be held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

How to watch the Cavaliers vs. Thunder game on TV

• This matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN.

How to stream the Cavaliers vs. Thunder game

• Viewers can stream the game on ESPN+, or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Cavaliers vs Thunder betting odds

According to BetMGM, the Cleveland Cavaliers are favored to win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in this regular-season matchup.

• Spread: Cavaliers (-2.5)
• Moneyline: Cavaliers (-140); Thunder (+115)
• Over/under: 229.5

Cavaliers’ starting lineup

• PG, Darius Garland
• SG, Donovan Mitchell
• SF, Dean Wade
• PF, Evan Mobley
• C, Jarrett Allen

Is Thunder center Chet Holmgren playing against the Cavaliers?

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder center, will miss Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers due to a right hip injury he sustained on Nov. 10. Before his injury, Holmgren played in 10 games, averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 50.5% and hitting 37.8% from three-point range.

Holmgren, a 22-year-old second-year player from Gonzaga, is anticipated to return this season, and the Thunder will provide updates on his recovery protocol this month.

In his final game before the injury, Holmgren scored 29 points, shooting 8-for-14, along with five rebounds and three blocks against Houston. Despite his absence, the Thunder have performed outstandingly, with a record of 22 wins and 3 losses.

Understanding the records and winning streaks

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder stand out as the only two NBA teams with at least 30 wins this season. This is also only the second time in NBA history two teams have achieved 30 wins in their first 35 games, previously done by the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971-72 season, where the Lakers went on to defeat the Bucks in the Western Conference finals and ultimately won the championship against the New York Knicks.

This matchup marks the third instance in NBA history where two teams meeting this late into a season have a winning percentage of .850 or better, and it is the very first time that teams from different conferences sharing this statistic have met at such a stage in the season.

This event also signifies the first occurrence in NBA history where one team on a 15-game winning streak faces another team that has won 10 consecutive games.

Cavaliers vs. Thunder historical record

In their regular-season encounters, the Cavaliers and Thunder have played against each other 123 times, with the Thunder leading the series at 71-52. This count includes matchups when the Thunder were recognized as the Seattle Supersonics from 1970 until 2008. This season marks their first encounter, with the last game on Nov. 8 of last season, where the Thunder emerged victorious at home with a score of 128-120. In that game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated, scoring 43 points alongside seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. The Thunder won both games against the Cavaliers last season.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault on the Cavaliers matchup

“Every game is just one out of 82, but this one is particularly exciting. They are the top team in the league, and it’s on their home turf. Both teams are performing exceptionally well right now. So, this presents a unique opportunity to compete against a great team, and we are eager to take part in it.”