Thunder clobber Cavaliers in battle of NBA’s best
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dunks between Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) and guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 134-114 home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA on Thursday.
The game was a marquee matchup between the two teams with the NBA’s best records.
But it turned into a blowout early, as the Thunder reeled off a 22-2 run over the final six minutes of the first quarter, then extended the run to 30-2 in the second quarter to end much of the drama early.
READ: Cavaliers take down Thunder in battle of NBA’s best
The Cavaliers came in as the No. 1 offensive team in the league, while Oklahoma City ranked atop the NBA in defensive rating.
The Thunder lived up to the ranking early, while Cleveland did not.
EFFICIENT. EFFECTIVE. SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER.
⛈️ 40 PTS (in 29 minutes)
⛈️ 17-26 FGM
⛈️ 8 AST
⛈️ 2 STLThunder win the rematch and Shai becomes the 2nd player to score 40+ PTS in less than 30 minutes this season! pic.twitter.com/frjuKu3IAN
— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2025
Over the last six minutes of the first quarter, the Cavaliers were just 1 of 8 from the floor with five turnovers and finished with 14 points in the period.
The Cavaliers were just 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from the field and 2 of 11 (18.2 percent) from beyond the arc in the first quarter with no free-throw attempts. Oklahoma City scored 10 points off Cleveland’s seven first-quarter turnovers.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Gilgeous-Alexander hit the 40-point mark with a driving floater with just less than two minutes remaining in the third that put Oklahoma City ahead by 41.
He ended the quarter by passing to Jalen Williams for a step-back jumper just before the buzzer and, with the game well in hand, did not play in the fourth quarter.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fifth game with 40 or more points this season.
READ: NBA: Thunder sign Alex Caruso to multi-year extension
Luguentz Dort scored a season-high 22 points, going 6 of 9 from beyond the arc.
Dort also helped lock down Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell on the other end, helping the Thunder hold Mitchell to just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting.
Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 20 points while Jarrett Allen scored 13 on 6-of-6 shooting.
Oklahoma City won the game comfortably despite being without their two big men, Chet Holmgren (hip) and Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus strain).
With Hartenstein out of the lineup, the Thunder started 6-foot-9 forward Jaylin Williams and used 7-footer Brandon Carlson for more than 17 minutes — more than double his minute total in any game this season.
The loss was just the second in 15 games for Cleveland.
The Thunder have won four consecutive games and 14 of their last 15. Oklahoma City’s only loss during that span was at Cleveland, 129-122, on Jan. 8. –Field Level Media
