“Let ‘em know” has been the slogan of the Cavaliers since before the start of the 2021-22 season because they felt like they were turning a corner despite finishing 22-50 in 2021. The Cavaliers definitely “Let ‘em know” on Jan. 9. They let the Oklahoma City Thunder know and they let a national television audience watching on ESPN know that they are legit after beating the Thunder, 129-122, on a night when their leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell, was 3-for-16 from the field. “The players in the locker room said ‘We don’t win this game last year (because Mitchell had an off night),'” Coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That says a lot about their growth and maturity and where they are in their evolution as a team.” Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 45 points, 22 rebounds and 13 assists Wednesday night to carry the #Cavaliers past the #Thunder, 129-123, in a battle of first place teams. pic.twitter.com/OWHb0TWPXC — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) January 9, 2025 The Thunder walked into Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on a 15-game winning streak. They were 13-3 on the road and a perfect 11-0 against teams from the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers were riding a 10-game winning streak and had the best record in the NBA at 31-4. They were 10-0 against Western Conference teams. “It was a beautiful game,” Atkinson said. “I think it had playoff atmosphere, playoff competition. Guys were competing. There was no extracurricular stuff. It was pure basketball, pure competition. It was a good game for the league, a good game for the fans. Really an exciting game.” PHOTOS: Cavaliers vs. Thunder, Jan. 8, 2025 The lead changed hands 30 times. The score was tied eight times. Oklahoma City's biggest lead was nine points. The Cavs' biggest lead was seven. The Cavaliers sent a message to the Thunder and the rest of the NBA that they will not be bullied. Fair or unfair, they were criticized for being soft when they lost to the Knicks in the first round in the 2023 playoffs and to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season. The Cavaliers beat the Thunder because of the way Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley dominated in the paint. Allen made nine of 11 shots from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds. He was 7-of-10 from the free throw line. He kept shooting and the Thunder continued to foul him. Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein was in foul trouble most of the second half because he did not defend Allen without fouling. Mobley scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. His floating jumper from 10 feet over Hartenstein with 1:07 to play expanded the Cavs lead to 127-122. “To be able to score on Hartenstein one-on-one, we all know how hard that is,” Atkinson said. “That’s a high level play by Evan. Evan put his stamp on tis game. He made the bucket of the game.” The Thunder are statistically the best defensive team in the NBA. Teams were averaging 103 points a game against them. Defense was critical for the Cavaliers, especially in the fourth quarter. The Thunder outscored the Cavs, 43-41, in the third quarter. The Cavs held their visitors to 20 points and just 17 shot attempts in the fourth quarter. The Thunder averaged 24 shots a quarter through the first 36 minutes. “We protected the rim, as we should have,” Allen said. “Every time they drove,  they definitely saw either Evan or I down there and they second-guessed their decision.” “I would say the same,” Mobley said. “Me and J.A., I feel like we’re the two best bigs in the league at protecting the paint. Tonight we were trying to make it hard on them.” The Cavs and Thunder meet again on Jan. 16 in Oklahoma City. In between they play host the Raptors on Jan. 9 and the Pacers on Jan. 12 then play the Pacers in Indianapolis on Jan. 14.