This Monday, the NBA on NBC celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with not one, not two, not three, but four straight games featuring some of the best teams in the league. That’s almost an entire day of basketball action, and it includes a look at the defending NBA champs as they head out for a cross-conference matchup on the road.

How to Watch

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Monday afternoon, in Game 2 of NBA on NBC’s quadrupleheader, the dominant defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, head to Cleveland to take on a tough Cavaliers squad. With just a month to go until NBA All-Star Weekend on NBC and Peacock, everyone’s trying to build up their records and make every game count, so this has the potential to be an absolute thriller. Let’s take a closer look.

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How to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game on Monday, January 19

The Thunder and the Cavaliers will tip off at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 19, live from Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The game will be broadcast live on NBC and simulcast on Peacock, so you can catch the action from your devices pretty much anywhere. 

The game is the second part of a first-of-its-kind quadrupleheader hosted by the NBA on NBC for the holiday, beginning with the Peacock-exclusive Bucks vs. Hawks game at 1 p.m. ET, and continuing after the Thunder/Cavs game with the Mavericks vs. Knicks at 5 p.m. ET, and Celtics vs. Pistons at 8 p.m. ET. You can stay on the couch for about 12 straight hours and never stop watching basketball!

What to know about the Thunder vs. Cavaliers NBA on NBC game on MLK Day

The Thunder are the single most dominant force in the NBA this season, and they’ve held that distinction basically since the 2025 Playoffs started, perhaps even before. They’re the only team in the league whose loss record remains in single digits, putting them well ahead of fellow Western Conference contenders the Nuggets and the Spurs, and they’ve managed to keep their stars relatively healthy since their title victory. That includes 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s been putting up more than 30 points a game, making him a Top 5 scorer so far this season. Throw in some excellent defense, including Chet Holmgren’s blocking ability and Cason Wallace’s prowess on steals, and they’re a tough team to beat, especially when Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort are both expected to be back in the lineup.

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But the Cavaliers are not to be underestimated. They’re still a major playoff contender in the West despite a somewhat slow start compared to last season, and under the leadership of Donovan Mitchell, they’ve put together one of the league’s best offenses, though they’re not quite as productive as the Thunder. Mitchell and company have averaged roughly 120 points a game so far this season, and if they can get past the Thunder’s league-best defense with the right scheme, they definitely have a shot at winning on their home court.

Click here to check out the NBA on NBC’s full quadrupleheader schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Not yet a Peacock subscriber? Click here to get started!