Oklahoma City – The Thunder secured a hard‑won victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, pulling away 124-116 after a frantic finish. Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander was the driving force, pouring in 42 points on 11‑of‑26 shooting, including five of 11 from beyond the arc, and converting 15 of 19 free throws. He also dished eight assists, keeping the offense flowing in the crucial moments.
Key contributors and game flow
Beyond Gilgeous‑Alexander, the Thunder received solid support from Ajay Mitchell, who added 23 points, and rookie Bennett Stirtz, who chipped in 16. The team has gone 3‑2 since losing three starters to long‑term injuries, showing resilience and depth.
The Thunder built an early lead, at one point stretching the margin to 25 points midway through the second quarter. Cleveland fought back, narrowing the gap to 60‑44 at halftime after a 19‑10 run. The Cavaliers started the third quarter with a nine‑point burst, seven of those points coming from James Harden.
Oklahoma City responded with a decisive 3‑pointer from Stirtz, who was perfect from deep, making four of seven three‑point attempts. Mitchell’s layup extended the lead to 96‑77, but the Cavs kept the pressure on, highlighted by Donovan Mitchell’s three straight three‑pointers that cut the deficit to 117‑111 with 46.7 seconds left.
Late‑game heroics
Despite Cleveland’s rally, the Thunder held firm. With 1:47 remaining, Oklahoma City led 115‑102. The Cavaliers’ late surge fell short, and the Thunder sealed the win with a final push that left the scoreboard at 124‑116.
James Harden contributed 19 points for Cleveland, while Evan Mobley recorded a double‑double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Cavs finished the night at 4‑4, while the Thunder improved to 6‑2 on the season.
Looking ahead
Next up, the Cavaliers will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, hoping to bounce back from the loss. The Thunder travel to Memphis on Friday for their next matchup, aiming to extend their winning streak and continue building momentum as the season progresses.
Fans can catch highlights of the game, including a special video of Thunder star Ajay Mitchell taking his family on a shopping spree at Homeland, on the station’s website.
Original reporting: KOCO Sports (Oklahoma City) — read the source article.
