SGA's 43 sink the Cavaliers 117-112 as Thunder rule the glass in Cleveland

Highlights

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Forty-three points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, including the three that shattered a 112-112 tie in the final minutes, carried Oklahoma City past Cleveland 117-112 at Rocket Arena.

The opening quarter belonged to the Cavaliers, 30-26, and their passing game never really stopped — they finished with 31 assists to the Thunder's 18. What they couldn't survive was the second quarter: Oklahoma City erupted 33-18 there, turned a four-point deficit into a 59-48 halftime lead, and stretched its biggest advantage to 14. Cleveland held the lead for just 15:55 all night; the Thunder held it for 29:31.

The hosts kept coming — 36-31 in the third, 28-27 in the fourth — and were cleaner with the ball, committing 7 turnovers to the Thunder's 8. But every extra Oklahoma City possession started on the glass.

Gilgeous-Alexander was the difference everywhere: 43 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and a plus-7 in nearly 39 minutes. The finish told the story. Isaiah Hartenstein's interior basket nudged the Thunder in front 109-110, Ajay Mitchell pushed it to 109-112, and when Sam Merrill's three squared the game at 112, SGA answered from deep for 112-115. Mitchell then buried two free throws for 112-117, sealing a 20-point night with the game's final four points.

Donovan Mitchell orchestrated Cleveland's attack with 17 points and 11 assists, Meleek Thomas matched his 17, Evan Mobley added 16 with 7 rebounds and Jarrett Allen posted 14 — but nobody produced a second-quarter answer when the game tilted.

Cleveland won the assist battle and lost the war underneath. Second chances, not pretty passes, won this one.