OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder used a 21-8 fourth-quarter flurry to get past the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 112-100 win.
The run was led by a lineup that never played a single second together until tonight with the game tied at 78-78 to start the fourth quarter.
The Giddey-Joe-Kenrich-Bazley-Muscala lineup outscored the Cavaliers 16-8.
By the time leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checked in, he had an eight-point cushion to work with. By the end of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with an efficient 35 points.
The Thunder enjoyed an efficient offensive performance. They shot 40-of-76 (52.6%) from the field and 10-of-18 (55.6%) from 3. They also enjoyed a busy night at the free-throw line, going 22-of-25 (88%).
Despite being massively outsized in the frontcourt, the Thunder held their own inside the paint, only being outscored 56-50 by the Cavaliers. The Thunder also surprisingly out-rebounded the Cavaliers, 46-37.
It was a back-and-forth game for the most part, with neither team leading by more than 15 points. After scoring 54 points in the first half, the Cavaliers were held to just 46 points in the second half — including just 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Without Donovan Mitchell out, Darius Garland picked up the slack for his All-Star starting teammate. Garland finished with 31 points and 13 assists. This included 23 of those points coming in the second half
The other Cavaliers player with a huge night was Evan Mobley, who finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds — although, he was held to just five points in the second half.
Considering the significant size disadvantage between the starting frontcourts of Mobley and Jarrett Allen to Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams, the Thunder did a phenomenal job of not allowing the Cavaliers to spam shots inside the paint.
Funny enough, the Thunder actually out-shot the Cavaliers inside the paint, going 25-of-47 (53.2%) compared to them going 28-of-49 (57.1%).
As the home crowds grow larger by the game, the Thunder continue to make it worth their time with fun and impressive wins like Friday’s — even with the Cavaliers missing Mitchell.
“It’s been great. Fans have been incredible all year long,” Kenrich Williams said. “Us winning games is gonna draw attention… We got the best fans in the league.”
Let’s take a look at Thunder player grades.