Cavaliers Vs Thunder: Thunder 121-113 Cavaliers (Feb 22, 2026) — Player Grades Recap
The cavaliers vs thunder matchup ended with the Thunder winning 121-113 on February 22, 2026. Sam Merrill kept the Cavs alive but it wasn’t enough in a gut-check loss to a shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Player grades and framing
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. The piece framed the night as a close test for Cleveland, noting that Sam Merrill’s best efforts aren’t enough to overcome the opposition in this matchup.
Cavaliers Vs Thunder box score highlights
Donovan Mitchell finished with 20 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers. This has historically been a tough matchup for Mitchell. 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, 5 turnovers. Harden can handle OKC’s ball-pressure a bit better than Mitchell because of his size at 6’5”. Even so, this remained a difficult matchup. The Cavs struggled to get the ball into the paint, largely because of the Thunder’s strong point-of-attack defense and willingness to drop on pick-and-rolls. The write-up said it likes the Cavs’ chances in this matchup better with Harden, but noted that beating the champs isn’t going to be easy at any point. Five turnovers knock him down half a grade.
Frontcourt battle and rebounds
Jarrett Allen finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers. Allen went scoreless in the first quarter as the Thunder’s frontcourt dictated the terms of engagement. He eventually found his groove and played an otherwise strong game. The Cavs tied OKC on the glass today; Allen had a game-high 6 offensive rebounds. The grading note removed half a grade for airballing that free throw.
Mobley, minutes and physicality
Evan Mobley had 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal in 25 minutes. This was only his second game since January 24th, and he was on a minutes restriction playing against the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA. With that said, only 2 rebounds are tough to swallow. Mobley also struggled with OKC’s physicality on offense, being moved off his spots and resorting to three-point attempts in the fourth quarter. The assessment said the Cavs need him to be more aggressive, getting to the paint or forcing his way to the free-throw line.
Other notes and roster context
Merrill kept the Cavs alive but it wasn’t enough to close the deficit. The recap also noted Tyson’s situation: 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.
Model picks and game context
The headlines driving coverage included a game recap labeled Thunder 121-113 Cavaliers (Feb 22, 2026) and a separate item that presented Thunder vs. Cavaliers odds, prediction, spread, time and 2026 NBA picks for Sunday, February 22 from a proven model. The article also noted that purchases made through the story’s links help support the site and pointed readers toward Homage’s Cavs gear and the new City Edition shirt.
Closing: The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a gut-check game to the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, 121-113 on February 22, 2026, with individual performances that kept the game competitive but ultimately fell short.
