SGA Drops 42 as Thunder Sweep Cavaliers 124-116 Despite Missing Starters

OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-116 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Paycom Center, completing a back-to-back sweep of Cleveland in three days. The Thunder-Cavaliers result underlined how dangerous the defending champions remain even while missing three starters,.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA most valuable player, added four rebounds and eight assists on 11-for-26 shooting, including five three-pointers. His 42 points followed a season-high 43 in Monday's 117-112 road win in Cleveland, giving him 85 points across the two games.

Key Points

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points, with four rebounds and eight assists, as Oklahoma City beat Cleveland 124-116 on November 4, 2026.
• The Thunder swept the home-and-home set after Monday's 117-112 win in Cleveland, with Gilgeous-Alexander totalling 85 points in the two games.
• Oklahoma City led 37-20 after the first quarter and 60-44 at halftime, then held off a late rally that cut a 24-point deficit to six.
• Ajay Mitchell added 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists; Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 27 points.
• Oklahoma City improved to 6-2 despite missing three starters, while Cleveland fell to 4-4.

What Happened

Oklahoma City took control early and never truly let it go. The Thunder raced to a 37-20 lead after the first quarter as Gilgeous-Alexander attacked the paint and the home defence forced Cleveland into difficult shots. By halftime the lead was 60-44.

Cleveland refused to fold. The Cavaliers chipped away through the third quarter and into the fourth, and when Donovan Mitchell got hot late, a lead that had stretched to 24 points was suddenly down to six in the final minute. The comeback fell short, however, as Oklahoma City steadied itself at the free-throw line and closed the game with the composure of a team that has been here before.

Ajay Mitchell's contribution was central to that composure. His 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists gave Oklahoma City a reliable second scoring option and took pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander whenever Cleveland sent extra defenders his way. Donovan Mitchell's 27 points led Cleveland's fightback, but the slow start proved too costly.

Background: A Short-Handed Oklahoma City Keeps Winning

The sweep is all the more impressive because of who Oklahoma City is missing. Chet Holmgren is working his way back from a right knee injury, Jalen Williams is recovering from left ankle surgery, and Cason Wallace is out after left shoulder surgery. Losing three starters at once would send most teams into a slide; Oklahoma City has instead improved to 6-2, and its depth has become one of the early stories of the season.

That depth starts at the defensive end. Even without Holmgren's rim protection, Oklahoma City plays with length, activity and discipline, and it showed in the first quarter on Wednesday, when Cleveland managed only 20 points. Monday's meeting in Cleveland had been a thriller decided in the final minute; Oklahoma City adjusted better in the rematch.

Thunder-Cavaliers: Gilgeous-Alexander Sets the Tone Again

What stands out about Gilgeous-Alexander's week is not just the scoring total but the control behind it. His eight assists on Wednesday showed a playmaker happy to punish double-teams by finding teammates: when Cleveland loaded up on him, Mitchell and others made them pay, and when Cleveland stayed home, Gilgeous-Alexander scored himself.

The first-quarter blitz deserves emphasis. A 37-20 opening quarter is the product of defensive intensity and clean offence, and it forced Cleveland to play catch-up basketball for three quarters. The Cavaliers' late surge came too late to undo that damage.

Reactions: A Comeback That Fell Just Short

No post-game quotes were available in the reporting of this game at the time of writing, so this section records what the action showed rather than inventing words for either camp. On the floor, Cleveland's reaction to falling behind was unmistakable: the Cavaliers kept competing, kept attacking, and turned a 24-point deficit into a six-point game in the final minute, with Donovan Mitchell embodying that response.

Oklahoma City's reaction to the rally was equally telling. Rather than panicking as the lead shrank, the Thunder executed down the stretch and closed the game out. That calm has been visible all week, from Monday's final-minute win to Wednesday's composed finish.

Why It Matters

This result matters because it extends Oklahoma City's early-season statement. The Thunder are not merely surviving their injury crisis; they are thriving through it, and back-to-back wins over a quality Cleveland side show that their depth is real rather than theoretical. Doing it while short-handed carries extra weight.

It matters for the MVP conversation too. Gilgeous-Alexander has now posted 43 and 42 points in consecutive games against the same opponent, setting the tone for his campaign as reigning most valuable player. For Cleveland, the loss is a warning: the Cavaliers have the talent to compete with anyone, as their second-half fightback proved, but slow starts against elite teams are punished, and at 4-4 they are still searching for consistency.

What Happens Next

Oklahoma City will look to keep the momentum going as it waits for its injured starters to return. Holmgren's knee recovery, Williams's ankle rehabilitation and Wallace's shoulder recovery will each follow their own timetable, and the Thunder have no reason to rush any of them while the current group keeps winning.

Cleveland needs a sharper start in its next game. A 4-4 record is not a crisis, but back-to-back losses to the same opponent demand a response, and the Cavaliers' late rally in Oklahoma City showed their character — now they need to show it from the opening tip rather than from 20 points down. Their next meeting with Oklahoma City will be shaped by everything that happened this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Thunder vs Cavaliers on November 4, 2026?

Oklahoma City beat Cleveland 124-116 at Paycom Center on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

How many points did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander score?

He scored 42 points, with four rebounds and eight assists, on 11-for-26 shooting including five three-pointers.

Which Thunder starters were missing?

Chet Holmgren (right knee injury recovery), Jalen Williams (left ankle surgery) and Cason Wallace (left shoulder surgery).

What are the teams' records after the game?

Oklahoma City improved to 6-2, while Cleveland fell to 4-4.

What happened in the first meeting this week?

On Monday, November 2, Oklahoma City beat Cleveland 117-112 on the road, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring a season-high 43 points. Read our report on Monday's 117-112 Thunder win in Cleveland, and on the injuries hitting Oklahoma City's rotation in our report on the Thunder's injury setbacks.