The Oklahoma City Thunder needed a response, and on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Cleveland, they found it through two very different but equally important performances.
Coming off a frustrating loss, OKC got back on track in a big way, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-104 and improving to 36-8 on the season. But this win was not defined by the final score as much as it was by when certain players stepped forward.
Earlier in the day, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander learned he would be named an NBA All-Star for the fourth time in his career and a starter for the second straight season. He finished with 30 points, and frankly, it felt like one of the easiest paths to 30 he has had all season. Shai never looked rushed. He never forced the issue. He simply let the game come to him.
Still, this was not Shai’s story.
The first half belonged to Isaiah Joe.
Joe continues to prove his worth when given consistent playing time, and most of his damage came early. With OKC’s offense beginning to plateau, Joe sparked a second-quarter surge, knocking down three three-pointers in a three-minute stretch. Each shot mattered. Cleveland briefly cut the Thunder’s lead to five with 4:15 left in the half, but Joe’s shooting steadied OKC and reinvigorated the offense heading into the break. By halftime, the Thunder were back in control, up 15.
Shooting is contagious, and Joe’s confidence bled into the rest of the lineup.
The second half told a different story.
After Jaylin Williams was ruled out at halftime with a low back contusion and Alex Caruso dealt with right groin soreness, the Thunder’s margin for error tightened. That is where Chet Holmgren took over.
Holmgren seized the moment, particularly early in the fourth quarter. He consistently took advantage of Cleveland’s bigs, emphasizing his offensive adaptability and diversity, especially his ability to stretch the floor. When OKC’s offense briefly went stale, Holmgren recognized it and responded, becoming one of the defining X factors of the game.
He finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks on 11-of-16 shooting. His impact went beyond the box score. He changed the spacing. He changed the rhythm. He turned control into separation.
Behind him, OKC’s defense did the rest. Cleveland shot just 37.5 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from three, while turning the ball over 21 times, leading to 23 Thunder points. After a quieter third quarter from beyond the arc, OKC caught fire in the fourth, outscoring Cleveland 45-25 while shooting 10-of-13 from three. Holmgren went 3-of-4, while Lu Dort was a perfect 2-for-2.
Injuries will continue to shape the Thunder’s rotation. Jalen Williams’ hamstring, Isaiah Hartenstein’s extended absence, and the health of Caruso and Jaylin Williams all remain factors. Still, if managed correctly, a tightened rotation could prove beneficial for players like Joe, who has thrived when the minutes are steady and the role is clear.
The Thunder have one more road game against the Milwaukee Bucks before returning home for a stretch against Indiana, Toronto, and New Orleans, followed by a demanding close to January against Minnesota.
But on this afternoon, the Thunder were less concerned with what is next and more focused on who stepped up when it mattered. Isaiah Joe gave them belief early. Chet Holmgren delivered control late.
That combination turned a needed response into a statement.
Accurate, Excellent and superb storytelling!