Gilgeous-Alexander scores 43 as the Thunder top the Cavaliers 128-120
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up big numbers without focusing on them.
The high-scoring guard had 43 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-120 on Wednesday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 15 of 22 field goals and 12 of 13 free throws. He fell one point short of his career high and scored at least 40 for the eighth time.
Best known for his mid-range prowess and exceptional ability to finish around the basket, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted just two 3-pointers.
“I know that’s where I’m at my best," he said of his interior offensive play. "I felt good coming in tonight. I just wanted to play fast, play in my comfort zone and make the right basketball play.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Gilgeous-Alexander was as aggressive about finding help as he was about scoring. He had six assists.
“It wasn’t like he just took over and took on Cleveland,” Daigneault said. "The ball was moving around and we became very difficult to guard.”
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren each added 15 points for the Thunder, who improved to 5-3 this season.
Caris LeVert scored 29 points and Evan Mobley had 22 for Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell, who entered as the NBA’s leading scorer at 32.5 points per game, was held to 20 on 8-for-23 shooting. He scored 43 points in the first meeting between the teams, a 108-105 win for the Thunder on Oct. 27 in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers shot 50.6% from the field, but Oklahoma City scored 30 points off their 20 turnovers.
“Our approach to start the game wasn’t good enough,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Where we were mentally and where our focus was wasn’t good enough. Coming out and not executing the game plan the way we did is disappointing.”
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting in the first half to help the Thunder take a 70-57 lead. He racked up those points without attempting a 3-pointer. Oklahoma City shot 55.3% from the field and hit all 12 of its free throw attempts in the first two quarters. Cleveland shot 53.8% from the field but made just 10 of 19 free throws in the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 points in the third quarter to put the Thunder ahead 99-87. He took a break to start the fourth and returned to the game with Oklahoma City leading 105-100.
Other players handled the scoring for the Thunder until Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 3 from the top of the key to put Oklahoma City up 117-108 with about four minutes remaining. It was his first 3-pointer of the game and just his second attempt.
“When they are double-teaming me or loading extra hard, it’s always important to make the right play," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That’s just how I was taught to play. And then like I said, at the end of the day, I just want to win. ... My teammates are pretty good, so it’s easy to trust them.”
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Visit the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
Thunder: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jarrett Allen vs. Chet Holmgren (Evan Mobley gains possession) | ||
| 11:45 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 11:45 |  | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 |
| 11:45 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 11:43 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 11:37 | | Luguentz Dort turnover (bad pass) (Donovan Mitchell steals) | ||
| 11:31 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point running layup | 3-0 |
| 11:10 | | Jalen Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:08 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | +3 | Darius Garland makes three point jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 6-0 |
| 10:50 | | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point layup | 6-2 |
| 10:36 | | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 10:36 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:36 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 10:36 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-2 |
| 10:22 | | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:19 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point putback layup | 7-4 |
| 10:10 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 10-4 |
| 9:51 | | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 10-7 |
| 9:29 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:25 | | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 9:14 | | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 10-9 |
| 8:57 | | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 8:57 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:57 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-9 |
| 8:46 | | Darius Garland blocks Josh Giddey's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:45 | | Josh Giddey offensive rebound | ||
| 8:44 | | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point putback layup | 11-11 |
| 8:38 | | Josh Giddey blocks Max Strus's two point cutting layup | ||
| 8:38 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | Darius Garland offensive foul (Off the ball) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 8:38 | | Darius Garland turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 8:20 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup (Luguentz Dort assists) | 11-13 |
| 8:04 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Williams steals) | ||
| 8:01 | | Donovan Mitchell shooting foul (Jalen Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 8:01 | | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-14 |
| 8:01 | | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-15 |
| 7:46 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point hook shot (Darius Garland assists) | 13-15 |
| 7:38 | | Josh Giddey misses two point driving dunk | ||
| 7:36 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Josh Giddey steals) | ||
| 7:24 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running layup | 13-17 |
| 7:08 | | Darius Garland turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 7:07 | | Thunder 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:54 | | Dean Wade blocks Jalen Williams's two point layup | ||
| 6:54 | | Jalen Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 13-20 |
| 6:25 | | Evan Mobley misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 6:23 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 6:11 | | Luguentz Dort misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:09 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 5:59 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:56 | | Max Strus offensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | Evan Mobley misses two point hook shot | ||
| 5:49 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 5:37 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 16-20 |
| 5:20 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:17 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 5:07 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point cutting dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 18-20 |
| 4:42 | | Luguentz Dort misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:39 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:34 | | Caris LeVert turnover (traveling) | ||
| 4:22 | | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point cutting layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 18-22 |
| 4:12 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup | 20-22 |
| 4:01 | | Dean Wade personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 3:55 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup | 20-24 |
| 3:42 | | Caris LeVert misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 3:39 | | Ousmane Dieng defensive rebound | ||
| 3:35 | | Davis Bertans misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:35 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 3:35 | | Dean Wade turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 3:33 | | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:30 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point driving floating jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 22-24 |
| 2:59 | | Davis Bertans misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:56 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 2:38 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:35 | | Georges Niang turnover (bad pass) (Davis Bertans steals) | ||
| 2:32 | | +2 | Ousmane Dieng makes two point running dunk (Cason Wallace assists) | 22-26 |
| 2:13 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point layup (Tristan Thompson assists) | 24-26 |
| 2:06 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup | 24-28 |
| 2:06 | | Tristan Thompson defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 2:06 | | Dean Wade shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 2:06 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 24-29 |
| 1:54 | | Caris LeVert misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:51 | | Dean Wade offensive rebound | ||
| 1:51 | | Isaiah Joe shooting foul (Dean Wade draws the foul) | ||
| 1:51 | | Dean Wade misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:51 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:51 | | Dean Wade misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:47 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | ||
| 1:40 | | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 24-32 |
| 1:25 | | Caris LeVert turnover (lost ball) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | ||
| 1:23 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running dunk | 24-34 |
| 1:03 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 27-34 |
| 0:43 | | Ousmane Dieng misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:40 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 0:33 | | Darius Garland turnover (lost ball) (Ousmane Dieng steals) | ||
| 0:22 | | Dean Wade personal foul (Isaiah Joe draws the foul) | ||
| 0:16 | | Caris LeVert personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 0:16 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-35 |
| 0:16 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-36 |
| 0:03 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point dunk (Darius Garland assists) | 29-36 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:48 | | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point cutting layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 29-38 |
| 11:31 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:28 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 11:27 | | Caris LeVert misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:22 | | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Josh Giddey misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 11:09 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 10:52 | | Darius Garland misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:52 | | Thunder defensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Jalen Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 10:38 | | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-39 |
| 10:38 | | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-40 |
| 10:18 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 31-40 |
| 9:57 | | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 31-42 |
| 9:45 | | Darius Garland misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:43 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 9:31 | | Chet Holmgren misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:30 | | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | ||
| 9:29 | | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point putback layup | 31-44 |
| 9:29 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:08 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point hook shot (Max Strus assists) | 33-44 |
| 8:49 | | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 33-47 |
| 8:31 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Darius Garland offensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 35-47 |
| 8:04 | | Aaron Wiggins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:02 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 7:57 | | Cason Wallace shooting foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 7:57 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-47 |
| 7:57 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-47 |
| 7:42 | | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 37-50 |
| 7:25 | | Caris LeVert misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:23 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 7:08 | | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point stepback jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 37-52 |
| 6:50 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:47 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 6:41 | | Aaron Wiggins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:37 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 6:30 | | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point layup | 39-52 |
| 6:11 | | Max Strus blocks Josh Giddey's two point layup | ||
| 6:09 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | Chet Holmgren blocks Jarrett Allen's two point layup | ||
| 6:06 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 6:00 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 41-52 |
| 5:37 | | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 41-55 |
| 5:21 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point dunk (Max Strus assists) | 43-55 |
| 5:21 | | Thunder 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:10 | | Caris LeVert personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 5:05 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Davis Bertans draws the foul) | ||
| 5:05 | | +1 | Davis Bertans makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 43-56 |
| 5:05 | | +1 | Davis Bertans makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 43-57 |
| 5:05 | | +1 | Davis Bertans makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 43-58 |
| 4:51 | | Jaylin Williams shooting foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 4:51 | | Caris LeVert misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:51 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 4:51 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-58 |
| 4:36 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup jump shot (Davis Bertans assists) | 44-60 |
| 4:12 | | Evan Mobley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | ||
| 4:05 | | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:02 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | Davis Bertans shooting foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 3:59 | | Caris LeVert misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 3:59 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | Caris LeVert misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:57 | | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | ||
| 3:47 |