Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points Sunday to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland.
For the Thunder, it was just their second win in the last eight and snapped a three-game losing streak, saving the Thunder from a second consecutive winless road trip.
Cleveland has now lost 10 consecutive games.
Two nights after Gilgeous-Alexander had one of his toughest shooting games of the season, the Oklahoma City point guard took some time to get going offensively, not taking a shot until nearly six minutes into the game.
But, after he mainly looked to facilitate for others, when he was on the floor with a group of primarily reserves, Gilgeous-Alexander came alive, sinking 4 of 7 shots en route to 16 first-half points.
He finished 9-for-15, making all three of his 3-pointers and adding 9 assists.
The Thunder’s bench played a big role in the win, as Hamidou Diallo scored 15 points and Mike Muscala 13 as the Thunder’s reserves outscored Cleveland’s 42-9.
As the clock wound down in the second quarter, Isaac Okoro fouled Gilgeous-Alexander as he tried a 3-pointer at the buzzer. hit all three free throws to put the Thunder up 62-51 at halftime.
Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Muscala bounced back from a rough game for the Thunder. After missing all six of his 3-point tries Friday, Muscala hit three from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers led by 10 early but the Thunder closed out the first quarter with a 21-8 run. Cleveland regained the lead briefly in the second but Oklahoma City answered on the next possession and led the rest of the way.
Collin Sexton led Cleveland with 27 points, Jarrett Allen added 26 and 17 rebounds, while Darius Garland scored 21. The rest of the Cavaliers’ roster, though, scored just 27, shooting 27 percent.
Allen was perfect on 11 field-goal attempts.
–Field Level Media