Thunder crush Cavaliers 136-104 without breaking a sweat

Oklahoma City dominates Cleveland behind a sparkling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and exceptional long-range shooting. The defending champions confirm their status as the NBA's best team with this commanding victory.

By@Nicolas Flamecourt

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Thunder crush Cavaliers 136-104 without breaking a sweat

Photo Credit : © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a true demonstration against the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 136-104 in Ohio. This victory allows the defending champions to consolidate their position as NBA leaders with a record of 36 wins and 8 losses.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again shined with 30 points, scoring at least 30 points for the 30th time in 42 games this season. The reigning MVP maintains his impressive average of 31.8 points per game, placing him second among the league’s top scorers. He was perfectly supported by Chet Holmgren, who contributed 28 points and 8 rebounds.

A 3-point festival that makes the difference

The key to this victory lies in the Thunder’s exceptional 3-point shooting. The Oklahoma City team converted 23 of its 47 attempts (48.9%), matching its season record. Luguentz Dort particularly stood out with 5 three-pointers for 18 total points, while Isaiah Joe (16 points) and Holmgren each made 4.

This offensive performance contrasts drastically with Cleveland’s struggles, who converted only 8 of their 35 three-point attempts (22.9%). This poor shooting represents the Cavaliers’ second-worst percentage of the season, who also lost 21 turnovers against the Thunder’s suffocating defense.

Donovan Mitchell, usually prolific, experienced a nightmare against Luguentz Dort. The Cavaliers guard scored only 19 points on 5/18 shooting, confirming his recurring difficulties against the Thunder. In three games against Oklahoma City, Mitchell displays alarming statistics: 11/49 shooting (22%).

This defeat represents the Cavaliers’ worst loss in regular season play in nearly two seasons, since they lost by 37 points in Miami on March 24, 2024. Despite 16 points from Jarrett Allen in his 600th NBA game and a double-double from Jaylon Tyson (16 points, 10 rebounds), Cleveland never found the resources to challenge the Thunder.

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