A 17-point first-quarter deficit was too much to overcome as the Cleveland Cavaliers
fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 124 to 116, dropping to .500 with a record of 4-4.
The Cavs made a brief comeback at the start of the third quarter with an 18-3 run spanning the end of the first half and the start of the second, but could never break through. They made things interesting late with a flurry of threes, but it was too late. James Harden, who finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, had 10 points in the third quarter to help bring Cleveland within striking distance, but the Thunder seemingly made a play right when they needed it.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated with 42 points, four rebounds, and eight assists. Ajay Mitchell had 23 points and seven rebounds in his expanded role in the wake of key injuries to Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
The Cavs were without Peyton Watson (hamstring) and Jaylon Tyson (ankle), which led to a surprise start for Tyrese Proctor. The former Duke Blue Devil contributed 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, but limped off the court late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
Donovan Mitchell tried to will the Cavs to a shocker, drilling three huge threes with just a few minutes remaining, but to no avail. Mitchell finished with 27 points and six assists, though he was on pace for another pedestrian offensive showing before catching fire in the fourth quarter.
Evan Mobley had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, and early bright spot Mario Hezonja provided 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Facing a big deficit and no spark, head coach Kenny Atkinson went deep off the bench to former Cleveland State forward Tristan Enaruna in the second quarter. Some new blood helped, but the Cavs could not fully dig themselves out of the first-quarter hole.
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Center Jarrett Allen suffered a knee injury in the first half and was quickly deemed doubtful to return. Allen ended up with just one rebound in seven minutes of action. Hezonja started the second half in Allen's absence.
The shorthanded Thunder were relentless, building a big lead and then holding the Cavs at arm's length the rest of the way. They had a very sloppy end to the second quarter that allowed Cleveland to crack the door open, and then came out of the half just as flat. The Cavs managed to get within seven, but never closer until late in the game.
If you only judged by the first 15 minutes of game time, the Cavs looked like a team ready to get on the flight home. But there were some good things late in the game that should give them some confidence heading into a Friday night NBA Cup showdown with LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers
. Tip-off is at 7:30 at Rocket Arena.
