The Oklahoma City Thunder dealt the James Harden-era Cleveland Cavaliers their first loss on Monday with a commanding 121-113 win at home.
Beating a team on a seven-game winning run (five with Harden onboard) is impressive in and of itself. Making it even more impressive is that the Thunder did so with a depleted lineup. OKC got the dub even without injured starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring), and key off-the-bench contributors Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) and Alex Caruso (sprained left ankle).
Isaiah Joe led the way for the Thunder with 22 points and 5 steals, while Cason Wallace added 20 points and 10 assists. Chet Holmgren put up 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks, even as three other Thunder players finished in double digits. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell fired 20 apiece for the Cavs.
Thunder’s Depth, Three-Point Shooting Too Much for Cleveland
OKC’s latest win, its 44th against 14 losses, was again a testament to the team’s enviable depth and marksmanship from downtown.
For the season, eight Thunder players are scoring in double digits, led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31.8 points. Two more—Lu Dort and Wallace—average at least 8 points, while three more put up at least 6 points a game. That depth sure came in handy against the Cavs, with Wallace and Joe, who both usually come off the bench, getting the start and leading the way.
The Thunder also relied on their three-point shooting, going ballistic from beyond the arc and converting 21 of their 41 attempts from the arc—with Joe making six of them—for a scintillating 51% clip. This season, OKC is ninth-best in three-point percentage at 36.5% while converting 13.6 a game (13th best in the league).
OKC will look to continue its winning ways on Wednesday when it takes on the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland, on the other hand, will aim for a bounce-back when it faces the New York Knicks, also on the same day.
