The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t just beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night - they battled, adapted, and flat-out overwhelmed them. Despite being down key players and losing two more midgame, Mark Daigneault’s squad showed exactly why they’re one of the grittiest, most resilient teams in the league right now. Oklahoma City’s 126-104 win wasn’t just about the scoreboard - it was about how they got there.
Already missing All-Star Jalen Williams and starting center Isaiah Hartenstein before tip-off, the Thunder’s rotation took another hit when Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso both exited with injuries during the game. That left Daigneault with just 10 available players for the second half - and yet, the Thunder didn’t blink.
Instead, they exploded.
Oklahoma City dropped a 45-point fourth quarter on the Cavs, outscoring them by 20 in the final frame and turning a tight contest into a 22-point statement win. That kind of offensive eruption - especially from a team running small and shorthanded - speaks volumes about the depth, chemistry, and toughness of this group.
Head coach Mark Daigneault was quick to credit his players for the way they responded to the adversity.
“The thing that I love about this team is we have a group of guys that see those types of setbacks as a challenge,” Daigneault said postgame. “And that became our challenge tonight with only Chet in the frontcourt.
So, we played small [for] a lot of minutes. Kenrich did a great job, but the whole team did a great job.”
Daigneault highlighted how even with Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen patrolling the paint, the Thunder leaned into their small-ball identity and fought through it. “The guys really scrapped and fought,” he added.
He also singled out Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe for their impact off the bench - and it wasn’t just about putting the ball in the basket. “Huge minutes out of Wiggins, Isaiah Joe; those guys were huge tonight,” Daigneault said.
“Not only with the shot making and the offense, but the way they moved the ball, and the way that they defended, and stuck their nose in the fight. It was a great overall team win.”
Leading the charge, as he so often does, was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The All-NBA guard dropped 30 points and orchestrated the offense with his usual blend of patience and precision.
Chet Holmgren added 28, Lu Dort chipped in 18, and Joe led the second unit with 16. In total, five Thunder players finished in double figures.
The shooting numbers were eye-popping - 56% from the field and 49% from three (23-of-47). But what really stood out was how OKC turned defense into offense. They forced 21 Cleveland turnovers and converted them into 23 points - a testament to their active hands and defensive communication, even with a patchwork lineup.
The injuries, though, are a real concern.
Jaylin Williams, starting in place of Jalen, suffered a hard fall after attempting to dunk over Jarrett Allen - a play that ended with Allen blocking the shot and Williams landing awkwardly on his back. Later, Alex Caruso tweaked his groin after stepping on Lu Dort’s foot. Neither player returned, and the Thunder haven’t provided an update on their status heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.
With Jalen Williams already sidelined for at least a few weeks due to a hamstring strain, and now Caruso and Jaylin Williams potentially joining him on the injury report, the Thunder could be staring down the final stop of their four-game road trip with a severely depleted roster.
But if Monday night proved anything, it’s that this Thunder team doesn’t fold when the odds stack up. They dig in, they adjust, and they find a way.
And as long as they keep doing that, they’re going to be a problem - no matter who’s available.