November 3, 2026 at 7:11 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Gilgeous-Alexander Scores 43 on 35 Shots as Short-Handed Thunder End Cleveland's Perfect Home Start

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Without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City leaned on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 43 points and a 33-18 second quarter to beat the Cavaliers 117-112.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took 35 shots, made 14 of them and finished with 43 points, and that was enough for an Oklahoma City team missing Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren to beat Cleveland 117-112. The Cavaliers had been 3-0 at home. They are 3-1 now, and the Thunder are 5-2.

The second quarter decided it. Cleveland led 30-26 after one, then managed 18 points in the second while Oklahoma City scored 33, going to the break up 59-48. Gilgeous-Alexander also had eight assists and hit 4 of 8 from three. Ajay Mitchell gave him 20 points of help, and Isaiah Hartenstein pulled down 14 rebounds on a five-point night.

Cleveland's best scorers were Donovan Mitchell and Meleek Thomas, with 17 apiece. Mitchell added 11 assists and 5 rebounds for a double-double. Evan Mobley scored 16 and James Harden 14. The Cavaliers won the third quarter 36-31 and the fourth 28-27, but the Thunder still led 90-84 going into the last period and held on from there.

The Thunder came in off Saturday's loss to Houston, and the injury list is long. Williams and Wallace may be done for the season. Cleveland, 4-3, wanted a statement against the team that shared the league's top seed with it last year. It still hasn't gotten one.

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