Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept rolling Monday night, and the Cleveland Cavaliers had no answer for it.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star poured in 43 points in a win over Cleveland, adding three rebounds and eight assists in 38 minutes. He shot 14-of-35 from the floor, knocked down four 3-pointers, and finished 11 of 12 at the line.
That performance also pushed Gilgeous-Alexander into rare company. According to ESPN Insights, he has now scored at least 30 points in seven straight games against the Cavaliers, matching Tracy McGrady’s run from 2003 to 2006 for the longest streak of its kind in NBA history against Cleveland.
Oklahoma City got the result despite being short-handed, with Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace all out. The Thunder were coming off back-to-back losses by more than 20 points to the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, so this one served as a needed reset.
Cleveland did get production from multiple spots, but it wasn’t enough to finish the job. Meleek Thomas had 17 points, five rebounds and one assist in his first NBA start.
Donovan Mitchell also scored 17 and handed out 11 assists. Evan Mobley added 16 points and seven rebounds, while James Harden and Jarrett Allen chipped in 14 points each.
The loss dropped Cleveland to 4-3 and handed the Cavaliers their first home defeat of the season. Oklahoma City moved to 5-2.
These two teams won’t have to wait long for the rematch. They meet again on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, giving Cleveland a quick shot to respond and the Thunder a chance to build on Monday’s momentum.
In Other News...
Jarrett Allen Is Making Cleveland's Trade Calls Look Ridiculous
Jarrett Allen has been one of the steadier reasons the Cavaliers have stayed on track since he arrived in Cleveland during the 2020-21 season, and this year he has only strengthened that case. His scoring and rebounding have ticked up, his shot selection has looked sharper, and even his willingness to step outside and test a three-point shot has added a new layer to what he brings every night.
The bigger point for Cleveland is how closely Allens production keeps lining up with winning. He has remained a defensive anchor, and his early-season block numbers have underscored just how much ground he can cover around the rim. For a team that once had to wonder whether the move for him would age well, Allen keeps making those old trade calls look more and more lopsided. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Closing Decisions Made This Thunder Loss Even Tougher
The Cavaliers and Thunder spent most of the night trading punches in a game that felt like it could swing on every possession, with 23 lead changes underscoring just how tight it was. Cleveland had to juggle its rotation without Jaylon Tyson and Peyton Watson, which pushed the staff toward multiple three-guard looks and made every closing decision feel a little more delicate than usual.
Meleek Thomas was part of that equation in a big way, making his first NBA start and giving Cleveland a useful burst of energy and production in extended minutes. Even with that kind of contribution, the final stretch still came down to execution and shot-making, and the Cavaliers were left with a loss that stung because they were right there until the end. [Read more 🡒]
Cleveland Cant Afford To Lose This Rare Power Bat
Clevelands offseason conversation has already turned to payroll, but Terry Pluto is making the case that one of the clubs rare right-handed power sources should be near the top of the spending list. Jo Adell arrived in the middle of the season and immediately filled a need the Guardians have struggled to solve, giving them a bat with the kind of pop that can change a lineups shape even when the overall numbers are modest.
Adell hit .244 with a .740 OPS in 48 regular-season games, and Plutos point was less about the stat line than the fit. With the Guardians facing budget limits and another round of labor uncertainty ahead, he argued the front office should be willing to absorb the arbitration cost if it means keeping a hitter who brings a skill set the roster does not have much of, especially when compared with other pending decisions such as free agent Foster Griffin. [Read more 🡒]