November 5, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Shorthanded Thunder Bury Cavaliers 37-20 in the First Quarter, Then Hold On Behind Gilgeous-Alexander's 42

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With Holmgren, Williams and Wallace all sidelined, Oklahoma City raced to a 17-point first-quarter lead and survived a 42-point Cleveland fourth, 124-116.

This page is the postgame report. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.

Oklahoma City is missing Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, and none of it showed in the first 12 minutes. The Thunder outscored Cleveland 37-20 in the opening quarter and never gave the lead back for good. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 42 points, and Oklahoma City withstood a 42-point Cavaliers fourth to win 124-116.

The game was largely decided early. The Thunder led 60-44 at the half after a 23-24 second quarter, and Cleveland won the third 30-28, which left it down 88-74. The Cavaliers poured in 42 in the fourth, the most either team scored in any quarter. But Oklahoma City scored 36 of its own, and the deficit shrank only from 14 to 8.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 26 shots, five of 11 from three, and added eight assists. Ajay Mitchell gave him 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting with seven rebounds. Bennett Stirtz came off the bench for 16 on 6-of-9 shooting, four threes among them. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell led with 27 on 10-of-17. Evan Mobley had the night's only double-double, 16 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden shot 5 of 16 for 19 points, with nine rebounds and six assists.

Alex Caruso returned from a three-game ankle absence and played 20 minutes: seven points, four rebounds, three assists. Isaiah Hartenstein scored three but grabbed 12 rebounds. The Thunder had already won in Cleveland, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 43. This one was more of the same, with a thinner roster.

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