Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a masterclass with 40 points, eight assists, and three rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114 on Thursday.
The emphatic victory avenged last week’s loss to the Cavs and showcased the Thunder’s title credentials in a clash between NBA conference leaders.,
The 26-year-old guard notched the 18th 40-point game of his career, spearheading a dominant performance at the Paycom Center. Gilgeous-Alexander received solid support from Luguentz Dort, who scored 22 points on six-of-nine shooting from beyond the arc, and Jalen Williams, who added 19 points.
Cleveland struggled to respond, with Darius Garland leading the team with 20 points, while Donovan Mitchell was limited to just eight. The loss leaves both teams with identical 34-6 records at the top of their respective conferences.
Despite the resounding win, Gilgeous-Alexander downplayed its significance.
“Tonight was a good performance. We did the things we were supposed to do,” he told TNT. “For us, it was just another night of basketball, another night of competing together.”
However, he acknowledged the satisfaction of dominating a team with the league’s best record.
“You want to test yourself against the best to find out where you really are. We tested ourselves, and I think we passed.”
The Thunder set the tone with a blistering 22-2 run in the first quarter, building a 32-14 lead. By halftime, Oklahoma City led 75-49, converting 13 Cleveland turnovers into 22 points. The onslaught continued in the third quarter, with the Thunder’s lead ballooning to 38 points, allowing head coach Mark Daigneault to rest his starters.
Elsewhere in the NBA, Devin Booker scored 37 points and Kevin Durant added 23 as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Washington Wizards 130-123 on the road. In Detroit, the Indiana Pacers beat the Pistons 111-100 behind 28 points from Myles Turner and 26 from Pascal Siakam.
The Thunder’s commanding performance cements their status as a team to watch, with many anticipating a potential Finals showdown against the Cavaliers.
