November 3, 2026 at 6:58 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisThunder Look to Finish the Home-and-Home Against a Cavaliers Team Chasing Answers
Oklahoma City's star power and depth in the first meeting give it the edge in the rematch.
- CLE @ OKC Nov 5, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC
The rematch starts with a simple question: can Cleveland find any answer for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? In the opener he scored a season-high 43 points and hit the go-ahead three with 32.6 seconds left in a 117-112 Oklahoma City win. Cleveland said afterward it had no answer for him. That is a hard problem to solve in 48 hours, especially now that he gets to play at home.
The context makes that win more impressive. The Thunder were missing three of their four best players, and they still bounced back from two straight road losses of 20-plus points. They also got support beyond their star. Ajay Mitchell scored 20, Kenrich Williams added 12, and Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 14 rebounds. If that secondary group delivers again, Cleveland cannot simply load up on Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Cavaliers' path back runs through their creators. Donovan Mitchell had 17 points and 11 assists, and James Harden had 14 points and six assists, both quieter than Cleveland would like. The first game had 23 lead changes, so Cleveland was close enough to win it with more from those two. The Cavs also come in off a loss and have been dealing with blown leads and a big defeat to Philadelphia. Rookie Meleek Thomas got his first NBA start in the opener, and how that young group handles a tight finish in a loud building could decide the rematch.
Cleveland has plenty of motivation, and another close, back-and-forth game seems likely. But Oklahoma City has the best player on the floor, a proven late-game answer, and a supporting cast that has already shown it can produce. I expect the Thunder to make one more key stop late and win a tight game at home.