The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a commanding performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 136-104 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day despite both teams being shorthanded. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champions with 30 points, while Cleveland struggled offensively and defensively throughout the game. The loss highlighted the gap between the hyped Cavaliers and the NBA's top team.
The matchup at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland pitted the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, against the Eastern Conference hopefuls, the Cavaliers, in a nationally televised game on January 19, 2026. Both squads entered without key players: Oklahoma City missed Jalen Williams (hamstring injury) and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf strain), while Cleveland was without Darius Garland (toe sprain), Sam Merrill (hand sprain), and Max Strus (foot surgery). Additional injuries during the game, including Alex Caruso's groin issue and Jaylin Williams' back soreness for the Thunder, did little to slow the visitors.
The game began competitively, with three lead changes and one tie early on. Cleveland held the lead for just 77 seconds total, while Oklahoma City dominated possession for 46 minutes, building a maximum 32-point advantage. The Thunder led for most of the contest, holding a double-digit edge for nearly the entire second half except for brief moments when the Cavaliers closed to within nine points.
Oklahoma City shot efficiently, particularly from beyond the arc, outscoring Cleveland by 45 points from three-point range. At halftime, the Thunder held a 15-point lead, which they extended with an 8-3 run to start the third quarter. Despite a brief Cavaliers push that cut the deficit to 12 points entering the fourth, Oklahoma City outscored Cleveland 45-25 in the final period, sealing the blowout.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 30 points in 34 minutes, supported by Chet Holmgren's 28 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Lu Dort added 18 points while defending Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 19 points on inefficient 5-of-18 shooting. Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Jaylon Tyson, and De’Andre Hunter each tallied 16 points for Cleveland.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson called it “total domination,” noting, “Defense, offense, I just think they showed why they’re champions. They dominated us — in every phase.” Mitchell praised the Thunder's defensive rotations: “They make the little things consistently. They’re defending champions for a reason.” Jarrett Allen added, “Their defense is so good... they disrupted us.”
The Thunder, now 36-8 with the league's highest point differential, underscored their status as title favorites. Cleveland, outshot at 37.4% from the field and committing 21 turnovers to 20 assists, faces the Hornets next on Wednesday.
