Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in a season-high 43 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 32.6 seconds left, as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-112 on Monday night at Rocket Arena. The win handed the Cavaliers their first home loss in four games this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Credits: NBA via ESPN)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Clutch 43-Point Night
It was not Gilgeous-Alexander’s most efficient evening — he needed 35 shot attempts, the most in the NBA this season, converting 14 of them — but when the game hung in the balance, he delivered. His go-ahead step-back three over Sam Merrill with 32.6 seconds remaining sealed it, capping a fourth quarter that featured eight ties and eight lead changes.
The two-time reigning MVP finished 11-of-12 from the free-throw line with 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals in 38 minutes. It matched his highest scoring total in 17 career games against the Cavaliers.
Short-Handed Thunder Bounce Back From Blowout Losses
The win was sorely needed. Oklahoma City arrived in Cleveland on a two-game skid, having lost both road games by 20 or more points, and remains without three starters to long-term injuries: Chet Holmgren (knee), Jalen Williams (fractured fibula, dislocated ankle) and Cason Wallace (torn labrum), plus top reserve Alex Caruso.
Rookie Bennett Stirtz stepped up in the run that mattered, hitting a pair of threes during a decisive 16-6 second-half surge. OKC also dominated the margins, outscoring Cleveland 50-30 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 54-46.
For the Cavaliers, rookie Meleek Thomas tied for the team lead with 17 points in his first NBA start, matching Donovan Mitchell, who also dealt 11 assists. But Cleveland’s miserable 14-of-24 free-throw shooting — losing by just five — will sting.
The Thunder improved to 5-2; the Cavaliers fell to 4-3. The two teams meet again Wednesday night in Oklahoma City to complete the home-and-home set.
Also Read: Chet Holmgren Out 8-10 Weeks After Knee Procedure as Thunder Injury Crisis Deepens
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
