The Cavaliers get another crack at the Thunder on Tuesday night, and this one comes in Oklahoma City after Monday’s disappointing loss.
Cleveland’s first meeting with OKC had a little bit of everything, but not one player completely seized control. Donovan Mitchell and Meleek Thomas led the way with 17 points apiece, and the Cavs will need a different kind of scoring punch this time if they want to flip the result.
Mitchell remains the cleanest path to a Cleveland win. If he can take over, that changes the whole shape of the game. If not, the Cavaliers may need their bigs to carry more of the load and tilt the matchup back in their favor.
That’s part of the issue with Cleveland right now: the approach has shifted a lot this season, even in games where it probably didn’t need to. A win tonight would also matter with the rematch against the 76ers coming next.
The Thunder didn’t exactly sit still after Monday, either. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went off for 43 points against the Cavaliers, and he did it while taking the most shots he has ever taken in his career. The lesson from that game was clear enough - he can be made to work for it - but he’s still an MVP and NBA Champion, so expecting him to simply go quiet is not a plan.
Isaiah Hartenstein also left his mark on the game. He grabbed 14 of Oklahoma City’s 54 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end, and that was a major part of why the Thunder kept getting extra chances.
Rebounding was one of the biggest storylines the first time around. Cleveland had bodies flying into the paint and plenty of players crashing the glass, but OKC still found ways to win loose balls and turn them into points.
The Thunder also had a rough shooting night by their standards, finishing 12-31 from three. But banking on another cold night from outside is a shaky strategy for Cleveland, especially with the home crowd behind Oklahoma City this time.
For the Cavaliers, the frontcourt has to be better. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were not bad on Monday, but they also didn’t dominate.
Together, they finished 11-21 from the field. If they can get to around 30 shots combined, that could open things up for everyone else.
Mitchell’s line looked strong on the assist side with 11 dimes, but Cleveland needs more than playmaking alone from him. If he’s pushing toward 20-plus shot attempts while still setting teammates up, the Cavs become a much tougher team to handle.
And if Cleveland is going to steady itself, it needs to start winning on the road. Outside of the Bucks game, that’s been a problem.
Cavaliers 112, Thunder 110. The Cavaliers need a big game from somebody. Ideally Mobley or Allen can play a better game than Monday.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Stole A Useful Frontcourt Addition From A Rival
Norchad Omier is heading into another NBA opportunity, and this one is coming with a different team than expected. According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, the big man changed his mind about signing a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves and now plans to join the Cavaliers on a similar deal, giving Cleveland a low-risk frontcourt addition with some pro experience already behind him.
Omier has already spent time in training camp with Minnesota and has also had NBA and G League stops, including a stint with the Clippers, so this is not a total unknown for a team looking to add depth up front. For Cleveland, it is the kind of move that can quietly matter over the long season, while for Omier it is another chance to carve out a foothold in the league and prove he belongs. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Reignited A Kyrie Debate Cavaliers Fans Know Well
LeBron James has a way of turning old Cavaliers debates back into fresh ones, and his latest comments did exactly that. The former Cleveland partners built one of the most memorable stretches in franchise history, pairing LeBrons all-around dominance with Kyrie Irvings shot-making on the way to the 2016 NBA championship, the high-water mark for a team that still measures itself against that title run.
Irving is now with the Dallas Mavericks, while LeBron moved on again this offseason by signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Even with their careers headed in different directions, their Cleveland connection remains impossible to separate from how fans judge both players, and the renewed conversation around Irvings place in NBA history is only going to keep that bond in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Mobleys Next Career Move Will Catch Cavs Fans Attention
Isaiah Mobleys next stop is taking him back to Europe, where the former Cavaliers draft pick has agreed to join Basquet Manresa in Spain, according to the club. For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder of how the organizations recent draft history continues to ripple outward, with Mobley now adding Spain to a pro career that has already included stops in Turkey and Israel.
Mobley was a second-round selection by the Cavaliers in 2022, and his path since then has been a familiar one for players trying to carve out a longer runway in the game. Around the wider basketball world, Killian Hayes has been linked to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Josh Hart has been mentioned as a possible fit for Napoli Basket down the line, and the NBA has also been dealing with questions from U.S. senators about its partnership with Rwanda. [Read more 🡒]