The Oklahoma City Thunder get the Cleveland Cavaliers again on Wednesday, with the rematch set for 7 p.m. CT in Oklahoma City. It’s the second meeting between the teams this regular season, and it comes just two days after the Thunder handled Cleveland 117-112 on Monday.
That win pushed Oklahoma City to 5-2, while the Cavaliers dropped to 4-3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the load in the first matchup, pouring in 43 points on 35 shot attempts. Cleveland, meanwhile, got 17 points and 11 assists from Donovan Mitchell and 14 points and six assists from James Harden in the loss.
For fans looking to follow along, the game will be available on Thunder+.
The Thunder are still dealing with a long injury list. Jalen Williams remains out after ankle surgery, Cason Wallace is out following shoulder surgery, and Chet Holmgren is sidelined in knee injury recovery.
Nikola Topic is out after back surgery, and Thomas Sorber is out after knee surgery. Jaylin Williams is questionable because of back spasms.
Cleveland’s injury report also has several names on it. Peyton Watson is out with hamstring tightness/soreness, Jaylon Tyson is out with an ankle sprain, Nae’Qwan Tomlin is out with a back stress reaction, Khalifa Diop is out on G League assignment, and Ernest Udeh Jr. is out on a G League two-way.
The expected starting lineups list Gilgeous-Alexander, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein for Oklahoma City. Cleveland is projected to start Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Sam Merrill, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
The prediction attached to the matchup leans toward the Thunder, 113-107, with the idea that Oklahoma City can use its home floor to steady itself after a tough stretch. The outlook also points to Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to carry a heavy offensive load, while Alex Caruso’s return is expected to help on defense. The over/under is set at 227.5.
Oklahoma City’s next games are Friday at Memphis, Saturday at home against Washington, and Tuesday at Portland.
In Other News...
Kevin Durants Thunder History Sparked Another Viral Fan Debate
A harmless-looking social media exchange was enough to drag Kevin Durants Thunder history back into the spotlight this week. A user named Drew joked that another account defending Durant had to be his new burner, and the line caught fire fast, feeding into the long-running fascination around Durants online presence and the old Oklahoma City debates that still follow him.
The account at the center of it all quickly pushed back, insisting there was no Durant connection and treating the sudden attention with a sense of humor. Even so, the episode showed how easily anything tied to Durant can reopen familiar arguments for Thunder fans, especially when it comes to his criticism of the franchises front office and the lingering curiosity around his social media past. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Turning OKCs Injury Stretch Into Something Bigger
The Thunder have managed to open the season 6-2 even while key players have been sidelined, and that kind of early stability usually says as much about a teams depth as its star power. In this stretch, though, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the one carrying the offensive load, raising his scoring level in a way that has helped Oklahoma City keep winning through the injuries.
Gilgeous-Alexanders recent scoring burst has pushed him into a conversation with the leagues most productive scorers, including Luka Doncic, who currently leads the NBA in that category. If this pace holds, it could put Gilgeous-Alexander in the mix for the scoring title himself, which would add another layer to a Thunder start that has already been more impressive than it had any right to be. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Need Kenrich Williams More Than Anyone Expected
The Thunders depth has been tested in a way few teams can fully prepare for, with Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren all sidelined by lengthy injuries. In the middle of that stretch, Kenrich Williams has become a far more important piece than Oklahoma City likely expected, giving the rotation a steadier edge with his physical defense and enough offense to help keep the group afloat.
Oklahoma City has already worked the margins of the roster through trades, balancing salary concerns with draft capital as it tries to stay flexible. A wing addition still feels like the sort of move that could make sense, but the Thunder may also decide the current collection of pieces is enough to get through the season if Williams keeps holding up his end of the load. [Read more 🡒]