The Cleveland Cavaliers just survived a brutal stretch.
They were on the road and the West Coast for the past four games.
And while they won all those games, that kind of wear and tear can hurt anybody.
Even so, the Cavaliers returned home and took care of business against the Charlotte Hornets, taking them down by double digits to keep their winning streak alive.
When asked about the win, however, coach Kenny Atkinson admitted that he was quite worried because of all the traveling and minimal sleep (via Evan Dammarell).
After their lengthy Western Conference road trip, #Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted he was “really worried” about this game against the Hornets after Cleveland dealt with constantly changing time zones and minimal sleep.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) January 6, 2025
The Cavs hit the ground running and jumped to a big lead in the first half, but tired legs showed in the second half when the Hornets tried to make a run.
Now, they must rest and recover before Wednesday night’s crucial matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That game will feature the two best teams in the league and the two No. 1 seeds, so it might even be considered a potential preview for the NBA Finals.
The Thunder are also riding an impressive winning streak of their own.
Most analysts have them atop their power rankings, even if the Cavs have a slightly better record.
Needless to say, both teams will approach that game as a playoff matchup, and it’ll be interesting to see how they fare and where they stand after that matchup.
Hopefully, all the traveling won’t affect either team, and they will both be at their best in that stellar contest.
NEXT: Stats Show How Cavs Have Dominated In Past 10 Games
