The Cleveland Cavaliers dug themselves into a hole too deep to climb out of Tuesday night, falling 124-116 to the Oklahoma City Thunder and slipping back to .500 at 4-4.
The damage was done early. A 17-point first-quarter deficit put Cleveland on the back foot immediately, and even though the Cavs found a burst of life later, they never fully erased the damage.
They did trim the gap with an 18-3 run that stretched from the end of the first half into the start of the second, then made things tense late with a barrage of threes. But every time the Cavs threatened to turn it into a real game, Oklahoma City had an answer.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the difference at the top end, piling up 42 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Ajay Mitchell added 23 points and seven rebounds while handling a bigger load with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams sidelined.
Cleveland was also dealing with its own absences. Peyton Watson was out with a hamstring injury and Jaylon Tyson sat with an ankle issue, which opened the door for a surprise start for Tyrese Proctor. The former Duke guard gave the Cavs 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting before leaving late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury of his own.
Donovan Mitchell tried to drag Cleveland all the way back, and for a few minutes it looked like he might pull it off. He buried three big threes in the closing stretch and finished with 27 points and six assists, though his night had been headed toward a quieter line before he caught fire late.
James Harden also gave Cleveland a boost, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He scored 10 in the third quarter as the Cavs tried to get within reach, but Oklahoma City kept landing the timely shot or stop whenever the game started to tilt.
Evan Mobley chipped in 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Mario Hezonja gave the Cavs an early lift off the bench with 12 points and eight rebounds. Head coach Kenny Atkinson also dipped deeper into the bench than usual, turning to former Cleveland State forward Tristan Enaruna in the second quarter when Cleveland needed fresh legs and a spark. The extra bodies helped a little, but not enough to wipe out the first-quarter damage.
The biggest concern may have come in the middle of the game, when center Jarrett Allen went down with a knee injury in the first half and was quickly ruled doubtful to return. He finished with just one rebound in seven minutes, and Hezonja opened the second half in Allen’s place.
Oklahoma City was shorthanded, but it still controlled the game for long stretches. The Thunder built the lead, let Cleveland breathe just a bit with a sloppy finish to the second quarter, then came out flat to start the second half. The Cavs got as close as seven, but that was as far as the comeback went until the final minutes.
For a stretch early, it looked like Cleveland might be headed for a long night with little to show for it. Still, the late push offered something to build on as the Cavs turn to Friday night’s NBA Cup showdown with LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 at Rocket Arena.
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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 🡒]