Gilgeous-Alexander scores 42 as Thunder hold off Cavaliers 124-116

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points, 15 of them at the free-throw line, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-116 on Wednesday, November 4.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 26 shots and had eight assists. The Thunder scored 37 points in the first quarter, and a 10-0 run put them ahead 20-9.

Oklahoma City (6-2) never trailed and was never tied. It stretched the lead to 25 at 50-25 in the second quarter.

The Cavaliers (4-4) closed the first half on a 10-0 run that carried into the third quarter and cut the gap to 60-51. Oklahoma City answered and led 104-93 with five minutes to play.

Cleveland scored 42 points in the fourth quarter and outscored the Thunder 23-20 over the final five minutes, but the lead never fell below six. Gilgeous-Alexander's two free throws with 35.6 seconds left made it 121-113, and Ajay Mitchell added one for 122-113. Sam Merrill's 3-pointer with 18.1 seconds left pulled Cleveland within 122-116, and Gilgeous-Alexander closed the scoring with two more free throws at 15.0.

Ajay Mitchell had 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting and seven rebounds. Bennett Stirtz scored 16 off the bench and made four of seven 3-pointers. Isaiah Hartenstein scored three points but grabbed 12 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, five of 10 from 3-point range. James Harden scored 19 but made only five of 16 shots. Evan Mobley had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Cleveland's bench outscored Oklahoma City's 43-34.

The free-throw line separated the teams: Oklahoma City went 27 of 35, Cleveland 17 of 19.

Cleveland's Peyton Watson was out with right hamstring tightness and soreness. Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams was out with low back spasms.

Up next

Cavaliers: home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, November 6.

Thunder: at the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, November 6.