NBA: Thunder stars shine in 32-point victory over Cavs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and Chet Holmgren added 28 points and eight rebounds as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-104 on Monday afternoon.

Isaiah Joe and Luguentz Dort each contributed 18 points for the Thunder, who tied their season high with 23 three-pointers. Dort drained five shots from beyond the arc, while Joe and Holmgren had four apiece, helping Oklahoma City secure its sixth win in seven games.

The defending NBA champion Thunder now holds the best record in the league at 36-8. The victory also marked Cleveland’s largest loss of the season and its worst defeat in two seasons under coach Kenny Atkinson.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 19 points but struggled from the field, making just 5 of 18 attempts and going 1 of 9 from three-point range. Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, and De’Andre Hunter each scored 16 points as Cleveland’s two-game winning streak ended.

Tyson also grabbed 10 rebounds, while Allen added nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Cleveland is now 6-8 at home since Nov. 30 and 14-11 overall in its arena this season.

The Thunder extended their lead to 74-54 in the third quarter before Cleveland briefly mounted a comeback, cutting the deficit to 81-72 on a pair of free throws by Allen.

Holmgren then took control early in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points in the first 140 seconds to push Oklahoma City back in command at 102-84. The Thunder’s largest lead reached 32 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 30th 30-point game of the season, and the Thunder outscored the Cavaliers by 34 points when Holmgren or Dort were on the floor.

Oklahoma City also pulled ahead 66-49 in the final minute of the second quarter, with back-to-back baskets from Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished the half with 16 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 10 points in the first quarter, which ended with the Thunder leading 32-27 after building an early 11-point advantage. Mobley led Cleveland with eight points in the opening period.

The Thunder were without guard Alex Caruso (right groin soreness) and forward Jaylin Williams (low back bruise) in the second half. Jalen Williams, averaging 16.8 points per game, remains out indefinitely with a right hamstring strain suffered Saturday against the Miami Heat. Starting center Isaiah Hartenstein has not played since Dec. 28 due to a right calf strain.

Cleveland also dealt with injuries, as point guard Darius Garland will be sidelined for at least one week after spraining his right big toe on Jan. 14 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Shooting guard Sam Merrill missed his second straight game Monday with a left ankle sprain.

—Field Level Media/Reuters