NBA: Gilgeous-Alexander's 42 points fire Thunder past Cavaliers 124-116

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points, and Cleveland never led. Oklahoma City won 124-116 on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at the Paycom Center, in front of 18,203 spectators. Gilgeous-Alexander added 8 assists and 4 rebounds in 35 minutes, making 15 of 19 free throws. The game was decided by a lead built in the first quarter.

The Thunder played without five players who had been ruled out: Chet Holmgren and Thomas Sorber (knee), Jaylin Williams and Nikola Topic (back), and Cason Wallace (shoulder). For Cleveland, Jaylon Tyson and Peyton Watson were out, while Jarrett Allen and Tyrese Proctor, both listed as questionable, started the game. Oklahoma City move to 6-2 and sit 4th in the Western Conference. The Cavaliers drop to 4-4, 6th in the East. The final eight-point margin owes much to Cleveland's late comeback after trailing by 25 points before the break.

A 15-0 run, then a 25-point lead before the break

The first quarter belonged to the Thunder. With 7:58 left in the period, Oklahoma City led only 10-9. The hosts then went on a 15-0 run that made it 25-9. Cleveland ended the opening twelve minutes trailing 37-20.

The gap widened further in the second quarter. With 6:27 left until the break, the Thunder led 50-25, their biggest lead of the night. Cleveland nevertheless won the period 24-23. With 18.6 seconds left before half-time, the Cavaliers started a 12-0 run that carried on after the break, from 41-60 to 53-60. At half-time, Oklahoma City led 60-44.

Cleveland win three quarters without ever getting in front

That 12-0 run cut the Cavaliers' deficit to seven points. Oklahoma City then pulled clear again and finished the third quarter ahead, 88-74. Cleveland won that period 30-28 but made up only two points. The lead never changed hands.

The final quarter opened with another Thunder surge. With 11:28 left, an 8-0 run took the score from 88-77 to 96-77. Cleveland then won the fourth quarter 42-36, their best period of the game. The comeback came too late: the 37-20 first quarter weighed on the game right up to the final score, 124-116.

Oklahoma City's key contributors

Gilgeous-Alexander carried the attack: 42 points, 11 of 26 from the field, including 5 of 11 from three-point range, and a plus-minus of +5. He attempted 19 free throws, as many as Cleveland's entire team, and made 15. He also turned the ball over 4 times. Ajay Mitchell was his main support with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 32 minutes.

Kenrich Williams added 13 points, including 3 of 5 from three. Off the bench, Bennett Stirtz scored 16 points in 22 minutes, going 4 of 7 from three with no turnovers. Alex Caruso scored only 7 points but finished with the best plus-minus of the game, +16 in 20 minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein pulled down 12 rebounds, Micah Peavy 9, and Aday Mara blocked 3 shots.

As a team, Oklahoma City made the difference at the line: 27 of 35 free throws, against 17 of 19 for Cleveland. The Thunder also turned the ball over less, 10 times to 14, and scored 21 fast-break points to 12. Rebounding stayed close, 47 to 45.

Donovan Mitchell and long-range shooting not enough for Cleveland

Donovan Mitchell was the Cavaliers' top scorer with 27 points on 10 of 17 shooting, including 5 of 10 from three, and 6 assists in 33 minutes. His plus-minus of +1 was the only positive on his team. James Harden compiled 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, but shot 5 of 16. Evan Mobley contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Mario Hezonja gave 12 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, Proctor 11 points on 4 of 7, and Sam Merrill 10 points and 7 rebounds. Jarrett Allen played just 7 minutes, without scoring. Cleveland made 19 of 49 three-pointers, four more than the Thunder. But the Cavaliers attempted only 19 free throws, against 35 for Oklahoma City, and turned the ball over 14 times.

Three takeaways

Gilgeous-Alexander made the difference at the line. His 15 made free throws account for more than half of the Thunder's 27. Oklahoma City made ten more than Cleveland, in a game won by eight points.

The first quarter decided the night. The Thunder won it 37-20, with a 15-0 run in the middle of the period. Cleveland then won the other three quarters, 24-23, 30-28 and 42-36, without ever getting in front.

The ball moved better on the Thunder side. Oklahoma City had 25 assists to 10 turnovers, Cleveland 19 to 14. The hosts also made 7 steals, to 5 for the Cavaliers.

The SNA view

Oklahoma City did not dominate this game from start to finish. Without five players, including Chet Holmgren, the Thunder lost three quarters and made four fewer three-pointers than Cleveland. They held on thanks to two levers: a 37-point start and a presence at the line that the Cavaliers never came close to matching. Gilgeous-Alexander embodies that second lever, with 19 free throws attempted by himself. Caruso, at +16 with 7 points, had an impact in other ways. Cleveland leave with a 42-point final quarter, a sign of reaction. But a 25-point deficit before the break forces a team into a chase, and the Cavaliers never caught the Thunder.

What's next

Oklahoma City, at 6-2 and 4th in the Western Conference, have won both of their regular-season meetings with Cleveland. The Thunder travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday 6 November. Cleveland, at 4-4 and 6th in the Eastern Conference, host the Philadelphia 76ers the same day.