It’ll be interesting to see which identity is able to better sustain success once the postseason is here. Throw in the possibility of a rematch in the NBA Finals, and how either team adjusts away from its identity could be the difference between winning it all or being disappointed by season’s end.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points and eight assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114 in a matchup of teams with the best records in the NBA.

The Thunder own the NBA’s best record against the spread (ATS) at 27-9-3. A cover percentage of .750 is absurdly high. By comparison, the single-season top mark over the past decade is the Memphis Grizzlies at .628 in the 2021-22 season.