Cavaliers Vs Thunder: Short-Handed Thunder Win 121-113 in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City defeated Cleveland 121-113 on Feb. 22, 2026, in a game defined by a barrage of 3-pointers and opportunistic offense in a matchup billed as cavaliers vs thunder. The result matters because the Thunder did it while missing multiple starters, and Cleveland’s late rally fell short despite contributions from three of its primary scorers.
Cavaliers Vs Thunder: Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren Propel OKC
The Thunder leaned heavily on perimeter shooting and depth in Oklahoma City. Isaiah Joe scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers, while Cason Wallace finished with 20 points and 10 assists. Chet Holmgren added 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Oklahoma City, which improved its record to 44-14.
Oklahoma City made 21 of 41 3-point attempts (51. 2%) overall, converting 17 Cleveland turnovers into 31 points. That combination of hot shooting and turnover conversion produced an early 28-5 advantage — a gap built on five makes from beyond the arc, three of them by Joe.
Halftime Surge: Thunder’s Early 3-Point Heat and a 64-55 Lead
The long-range attack continued through the first half: the Thunder were 14 of 22 (63. 6%) from 3-point range before the break. Cleveland trimmed the deficit to 64-55 when Donovan Mitchell beat the halftime buzzer with a jumper, but Oklahoma City’s efficiency from distance had already dictated the tone.
Cleveland Responses: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Sam Merrill Make Runs
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Sam Merrill each scored 20 points for Cleveland, which fell to 36-22 and suffered its first loss in eight games. Mitchell’s stat line read 20 points, five assists, seven rebounds, two steals and three turnovers; he went 0-for-6 from three. Harden posted 20 points, nine assists, five rebounds, one steal and five turnovers. Merrill’s hot start in the third — eight quick points — helped keep the Cavaliers within striking distance and, as one observer put it, kept the Cavs alive.
The Cavaliers made 13 of 39 from three (33. 3%) overall. After Merrill’s third-quarter burst and a short jumper by Jared Allen gave Cleveland a 69-68 lead — their first of the game — Oklahoma City countered with back-to-back 3s from Jared McCain and Joe to push the margin back out.
Frontcourt Notes: Jared Allen, Evan Mobley and Isaiah Hartenstein Impact the Finish
Jared Allen contributed 11 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal and three turnovers; he went scoreless in the first quarter before finding a rhythm and produced a game-high six offensive rebounds. Evan Mobley had 15 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 25 minutes; this was Mobley’s second game since January 24 and he remained on a minutes restriction, managing only two rebounds and facing physical matchups that pushed him into perimeter attempts late.
In the fourth quarter, consecutive 3s from Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams and Wallace extended Oklahoma City’s lead to 102-95. Isaiah Hartenstein scored 10 points in the final period and hit back-to-back jumpers that established a 106-98 advantage the Thunder did not relinquish.
Absences and Anomalies: Injuries Listed and a Sparse Feed Titled '429 Too Many Requests'
The Thunder were short-handed: starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring) did not play, and key contributors Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) and Alex Caruso (sprained left ankle) were also out. Those absences thrust depth players into larger roles and made the team’s 51. 2% mark from three and its 31 points off turnovers decisive.
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What makes this notable is that Oklahoma City secured a win while missing multiple regular contributors, relying on an elite three-point performance and turnover-to-points conversion to blunt a Cleveland comeback. The timing matters because the Thunder maintained their winning record despite rotation disruptions, and the Cavaliers’ late push — sparked by Merrill and underscored by contributions from Mitchell and Harden — fell short by eight points.
