Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scores Season-High 43, Hits Go-Ahead 3 as Thunder Beat Cavaliers 117-112

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 43 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 32.6 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-112 on Monday night in Cleveland.

The win stopped a two-game slide for Oklahoma City (5-2), which had lost back-to-back road games by more than 20 points. Cleveland fell to 4-3 and lost at home for the first time in four games this season, according to the Associated Press.

Thunder vs. Cavaliers: a fourth quarter of eight lead changes

The first half had 15 lead changes before the Thunder closed the second quarter on a 16-6 run to lead 59-48 at the break. Oklahoma City pushed the lead to 69-55 with 9:26 left in the third on two Gilgeous-Alexander free throws.

Cleveland came back from deep. The Cavaliers went 9 of 17 from 3-point range in the third quarter and opened the fourth on an 18-9 run. The final period had eight ties and eight lead changes, per the AP.

Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer tied it 112-112 with 1:01 left. After a Thunder miss and an offensive rebound, Gilgeous-Alexander hit a step-back 3 for a 115-112 lead. Merrill missed from the corner on the other end, and Ajay Mitchell sank two free throws with 15.4 seconds left to make it a two-possession game. Donovan Mitchell missed a 3 in the final seconds.

SGA’s 43: volume and free throws

Gilgeous-Alexander took 35 shots, which the AP said was the most by any NBA player in the first two weeks of the season. He made 14, including four 3-pointers, and went 11 of 12 from the line in 38 minutes. He also had eight assists. The 43 points matched his highest total in 17 career games against Cleveland, per the AP.

Short-handed OKC finds help

The Thunder have been missing three starters to long-term injuries, the AP reported. Others stepped up:

• Ajay Mitchell: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 of 6 free throws
• Isaiah Hartenstein: 14 rebounds, 4 assists
• Kenrich Williams: 12 points
• Aday Mara: 10 points, 9 rebounds off the bench
• Bennett Stirtz: 9 points on three 3-pointers
• Micah Peavy: 8 points, 2 of 2 from 3, and the final defensive rebound

Oklahoma City outrebounded Cleveland 54-46 and made 21 of 23 free throws. The Cavaliers made only 14 of 24, according to the box score.

Cavaliers: Meleek Thomas debuts as a starter

Rookie Meleek Thomas, in his first NBA start, and Donovan Mitchell each scored 17 to lead Cleveland. Mitchell also had 11 assists. Evan Mobley added 16 points and seven rebounds, while James Harden and Jarrett Allen had 14 points apiece. Cleveland hit 18 3-pointers but shot 36.7% from deep on 49 attempts.

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