It's time to stop doubting Thunder, Cavaliers as NBA title contenders

The Cavaliers (54-10) and Thunder (53-11) have not been given their just credit despite owning the best records in the NBA. 

Many have pigeonholed them as regular-season powerhouses lacking the experience or pedigree to challenge for the NBA championship. 

Over the weekend, many of those doubts may have been quelled. The Cavs extended their winning streak to 14 with a 112-100 victory over the Bucks, a red-hot team that had won eight of its last 10. With the win, the Cavaliers — who average a league-high 122.9 points — proved they can prevail in scrappy, low-scoring games and not just shootouts, a trait that should hold them in good stead in the playoffs.

Sunday's game marked the first time since Dec. 3 when no Cavs player scored 20 points. It spoke volumes of Kenny Atkinson's squad to pull off the win by hanging its hats on defense, holding the Bucks to 42.9 percent shooting, the latter's lowest mark since Feb. 25. 

The Thunder also showed a lot of mettle by drubbing the Nuggets 127-103, extending their win streak to seven. It was a remarkable feat to contain Denver to 18.3 points below its season average and, more impressively, to 20 fourth-quarter points. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were held to a combined 16-of-40, their most inefficient combined output all season — a testament to OKC's lockdown defense. 

OKC further proved it can be physical in the interior, outrebounding Denver 56-48 and registering 14 blocked shots. Previously, some questioned the Thunder's ability to thrive in physical battles, terming it the one weakness that could derail their postseason hopes. 

No, these are not the 2014-15 Hawks, who won 60 regular-season games but were exposed in the playoffs. The Thunder and Cavaliers are legitimate No. 1 seeds and are on a potential collision course in June's NBA Finals. It's time to start showing them more respect.