Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 43 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 32.6 seconds left, as the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-112 in Cleveland on Monday night.
Oklahoma City needed the result after two heavy road defeats. The win was its first in three games since losing three starters to long-term injuries, and it handed Cleveland its first home defeat of the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 35 shots, the most by any player in the NBA during the first two weeks of the season, according to ESPN. He made 14 of them and went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes.
The fourth quarter swung repeatedly, with eight ties and eight lead changes before Gilgeous-Alexander drilled his fourth three-pointer of the night over Sam Merrill to put Oklahoma City ahead 115-112.
Cleveland had a chance to answer, but Merrill missed a shot from the corner. Ajay Mitchell then sank two free throws with 15.4 seconds left to make it a two-possession game, and the Thunder closed out the 117-112 win.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said Gilgeous-Alexander had “the look in his eye tonight”, adding that the team rode him offensively. Daigneault said such nights call for cutting a player of his calibre loose, and Gilgeous-Alexander delivered in a big way.
Ajay Mitchell scored 20 points for Oklahoma City, and Isaiah Hartenstein pulled down 14 rebounds, according to ESPN.
For Cleveland, rookie Meleek Thomas scored 17 points in his first NBA start, matching Donovan Mitchell’s 17. Mitchell also handed out 11 assists, while Evan Mobley added 16 points.
Oklahoma City led 59-48 at halftime after closing the second quarter on a 16-6 run. Cleveland fought back in the third quarter, hitting 9 of 17 three-point attempts, and opened the fourth with an 18-9 run before the Thunder steadied.
The Thunder have been reeling since losing three starters to long-term injuries, and the win steadied them before the return fixture. The teams meet again on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, completing the home-and home set between the two sides.
