Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 43 points — his season high — and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 32.6 seconds remaining to lift the Thunder to a 117-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night in Cleveland.
Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 35 shots — the most by any NBA player in the first two weeks of the season — and made 14. He shot 11-of-12 from the free-throw line and played 38 minutes. His 43 points equaled his top scoring performance in 17 career games versus Cleveland.
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The fourth quarter included eight ties and eight lead changes before Gilgeous-Alexander drained his fourth three. After Cleveland’s Sam Merrill missed a corner three, Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell extended the lead to five with two free throws at 15.4 seconds.
Oklahoma City entered the game missing three starters due to long-term injuries. Mitchell finished with 20 points, and center Isaiah Hartenstein collected 14 rebounds.
Cleveland rookie Meleek Thomas started for the first time in his NBA career and scored 17 points. Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell also totaled 17 points and 11 assists. Forward Evan Mobley added 16 points.
The Cavaliers trailed 59-48 at halftime after Oklahoma City closed the second quarter on a 16-6 run. Cleveland opened the fourth quarter on an 18-9 run but failed to maintain momentum. The first half featured 15 lead changes and two ties.
The loss was Cleveland’s first at home this season in four games. Oklahoma City ended a two-game losing streak — both road defeats by 20 or more points.
The teams meet again Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
More: NBA · Cleveland Cavaliers · Oklahoma City Thunder
