The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big statement in their home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Unfortunately, they didn’t fare nearly as well in the rematch.
The Thunder got the better of them with a 134-114 home win that was even more lopsided for the most part.
On top of that, Donovan Mitchell struggled again to get anything going against them.
That’s why Brian Windhorst believes he has a Lu Dort problem.
Talking on ESPN Cleveland, the renowned insider argued that Kenny Atkinson had to do a better job of putting Mitchell in a position to score against the Thunder’s physical defense.
"Donovan Mitchell has a Lu Dort problem," – @WindhorstESPN on the Cavs/Thunder matchup.
Are you worried about Donovan Mitchell right now? pic.twitter.com/X4CRkyhKdL
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) January 17, 2025
Dort has usually guarded him very well and very physically in the past.
Mitchell scored a season-low eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in the loss to the Thunder.
He didn’t do much better in their first encounter, as he went 3-of-16 for 11 points.
Of course, the Thunder aren’t in the Eastern Conference.
They won’t have to meet them again until the NBA Finals, assuming they get there.
However, these two teams have the best records in their respective conferences, both by a significant margin.
It’s not crazy to think they could square off again in a seven-game series with the ultimate prize at stake.
There’s still plenty of basketball to be played before that, and the team must cross that bridge once they get there.
Still, Dort and the Thunder could also give other teams a blueprint for neutralizing the Cavs’ primary scoring weapon, and that has to be a concern.
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