NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Cavaliers with strong second-half performance

Cleveland Cavaliers 124-116 on Wednesday.

The Thunder completed a home-and-home sweep against the Cavaliers, having won by five in Cleveland on Monday.

This one wasn't nearly as close, though a late Cavaliers push narrowed the gap at the end.

The Thunder were on top from start to finish, building a lead as big as 25 points in the first half.

Oklahoma City took control with a 25-7 run in the first quarter that included eight points from rookie Bennett Stirtz.

By midway through the second, the Thunder were up 50-25.

Cleveland cut the deficit to seven in the opening minutes of the second half thanks to seven quick points from James Harden and a bucket from Donovan Mitchell.

But coming out of an Oklahoma City timeout, Gilgeous-Alexander took over.

In the first half, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player mainly worked along the perimeter, with seven of his 12 shots coming from beyond the 3-point arc.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a mid-range jumper to halt Cleveland's run, then assisted on back-to-back buckets on drives to the basket before hitting a fadeaway jumper and a step-back 3-pointer.

The Cavaliers never were closer than eight again until the final minute. Gilgeous-Alexander sank six free throws in the final 41 seconds to help keep the Thunder in front.

Gilgeous-Alexander sank five 3-pointers, just one off his career high. He finished 11 of 26 from the field with eight assists, winding up one point short of the 43 he produced on Monday in Cleveland.

Though the Thunder remain without three starters -- Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace -- they did get key bench contributor Alex Caruso back after he missed three games due to an ankle injury.

Caruso's defense played a big role in the Thunder helping hold the Cavaliers to a season-low 43% shooting from the floor.

Oklahoma City's Ajay Mitchell tossed in 23 points, while Stirtz wound up with a career-high 16.

Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting while Harden added 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Evan Mobley totaled 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Late in the first quarter, Cleveland's Jarrett Allen sustained a right knee injury as he collided with Jared McCain while setting a screen. Allen left the game and did not return. He finished scoreless in seven minutes.

-Field Level Media/Reuters