Cavaliers Vs Thunder: cavaliers vs thunder player grades after Sam Merrill’s best efforts aren’t enough

In a close loss to a shorthanded Oklahoma City team, Sam Merrill kept the Cavaliers alive but it wasn’t enough as the Cleveland Cavaliers lost a gut-check game to the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder. All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Sam Merrill’s late push couldn’t overcome the shorthanded Thunder

Sam Merrill’s effort kept Cleveland in the contest, but the Cavs ultimately fell to the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder. That loss left the Cavaliers having come up short in a game described as a gut-check, with Merrill’s contribution noted as insufficient to change the result.

Cavaliers Vs Thunder: Mitchell and Harden’s stat lines and matchup trouble

Donovan Mitchell finished with 20 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers. He was able to break free for a relatively efficient game compared to his previous efforts vs OKC, but the Thunder remain the best defensive team in the league at hounding Mitchell; he had to fight for everything and went 0-6 from downtown.

James Harden posted 20 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 5 turnovers. At 6'5", Harden can handle OKC’s ball-pressure a bit better than Mitchell, but this matchup is still difficult even for him. The Cavaliers struggled to get the ball into the paint because of the Thunder’s strong point-of-attack defense and their willingness to drop on pick-and-rolls. The Cavs’ chances are viewed as better with Harden on the floor, but beating the champs isn’t going to be easy at any point; five turnovers dropped Harden half a grade in the evaluation.

Allen’s rebound work and the costly free throw

Allen finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 turnovers. He went scoreless in the first quarter as the Thunder’s frontcourt dictated the terms of engagement, but Allen eventually found his groove and played an otherwise strong game. Cleveland was tied with OKC on the glass for the contest, and Allen had a game-high six offensive rebounds, yet he drew criticism for the team’s rebounding issues. Evaluators removed half a grade for Allen after he airballed a free throw.

Mobley’s limited minutes, second game back, and Tyson’s adjustment period

Mobley logged 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 25 minutes. This was only his second game since January 24th, and he was on a minutes restriction while facing what was described as the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA. Only two rebounds was a disappointing total; Mobley struggled with OKC’s physicality on offense, was moved off his spots and resorted to three-point attempts in the fourth quarter. The assessment stressed that the Cavs need Mobley to be more aggressive, getting to the paint or forcing his way to the free-throw line.

Separately, Tyson’s going through an adjustment period, and it’s affected his recent performances. His role is smaller than before, and his impact has felt more scattered.

Takeaways from a hard-fought defeat

The Cavs lost a tight contest to a shorthanded Oklahoma City team despite notable contributions: Sam Merrill kept Cleveland alive; Donovan Mitchell and James Harden each scored 20 points; Allen posted a double-double with 13 rebounds and a game-high six offensive boards; Mobley returned for his second game since January 24th under a minutes restriction. Evaluations were made against the outlet’s usual expectations for each player, with turnovers and key missed opportunities—like Allen’s airballed free throw and Harden’s five turnovers—factored into final grades.