Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t missed a beat, sitting atop the NBA standings past the midpoint of the regular season.
The next stop for the Thunder is a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who carry a two-game winning streak into a Monday matinee.
Oklahoma City did absorb a rare loss Saturday, falling 122-120 on the road against the Miami Heat despite 39 points from Gilgeous-Alexander, as it continued a four-game road trip.
“We obviously could have been better, but I thought Miami played a really good game,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “Their effort level was great throughout the game, so you’ve got to credit them.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored at least 20 points in 113 consecutive games, didn’t get a shot during the Thunder’s final two possessions after Miami went ahead on Andrew Wiggins’ 3-pointer with 31.7 seconds remaining.
Oklahoma City did not score from the floor after a basket from Ajay Mitchell with 2:49 remaining. Chet Holmgren missed a potential game-tying alley-oop with 29.5 seconds left before Alex Caruso’s banked 3-point attempt missed as the clock ran out.
The defeat was the Thunder’s first in six games. Oklahoma City is 35-8 and 3 1/2 games ahead of the Detroit Pistons for best record in the NBA.
“You just try to focus on the things that really matter, the things you can control,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Everything you can’t control, you let go.”
That includes injuries. Center Isaiah Hartenstein hasn’t played since Dec. 28 because of a right calf strain and forward Jalen Williams left the Heat game with what the Thunder called right thigh soreness. Oklahoma City has since ruled out both players for Monday, revealing Williams suffered a hamstring strain.
Holmgren posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks at Miami, but the rest of the Thunder failed to make an impact beyond Aaron Wiggins’ 18 points off the bench. The Heat took 111 shots from the floor.
“They were able to push the pace and get a lot of attempts up,” Aaron Wiggins said. “And they were able to get some offensive rebounds off long shots, right at the rim.”
Cleveland’s up-and-down season is back on the ascent with back-to-back victories at the Philadelphia 76ers. Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 39 points and fed Evan Mobley for the game-winning dunk with four seconds remaining in a 117-115 victory Friday.
Tyson, who has started at shooting guard and both forward spots, is making a push for the Most Improved Player Award. The second-year pro is second in the league in 3-point shooting at 47.5% and averages 13.4 points — 9.8 more than his rookie output.
“That kid is different. He puts the time in, he puts the work in,” Cleveland shooting guard Donovan Mitchell said of Tyson. “He is the reason we won the game. To do all that and guard Tyrese Maxey for 48 minutes, that’s a special kid.”
The Cavaliers are 7-3 since Dec. 29, matching the Boston Celtics for the best current surge in the East, and have moved within 1 1/2 games of the New York Knicks for third in the conference.
Cleveland also has been bit by the injury bug of late. Point guard Darius Garland is sidelined with a right foot injury.
Sharpshooter Sam Merrill (hand) is out indefinitely, while power forward Dean Wade (knee) has missed two weeks. Tyson’s emergence has been timely.
“We’ve got a lot of guys out, but Jaylon’s in his second year and it’s like he’s been here for 10 years,” Mitchell said. “He needs to be in the most improved category. He needs to win that award.”
–Field Level Media
