Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren hit consecutive 3-pointers to set up Lu Dort’s go-ahead floater with 28.1 seconds remaining Friday night as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder rallied late for a 108-105 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell had a game-high 43 points, including four points and an assist during a 9-0 run that gave the Cavaliers a 100-90 lead with 2:37 remaining.
Evan Mobley dunked with 1:56 left to give Cleveland a nine-point lead, but Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren made three consecutive 3-pointers over a 46-second flurry that tied the score, 102-102.
Williams stole the ball from Mitchell and Dort hit the go-ahead floater with 28.1 seconds left.
The Cavaliers had a chance to tie, but Mitchell misfired on a 14-footer with 20 seconds left. Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander each made two free throws to clinch the Thunder’s second consecutive road win to open the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a team-high 34 points, and Dort added 25 points to pace the Thunder, who had made just nine 3-pointers before connecting on four in the final 2:18.
Gilgeous-Alexander added 11 rebounds and five steals, while Holmgren finished with 16 points and a team-high 13 rebounds and seven blocks.
Williams added 14 points.
Mobley grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to go with 14 points for the Cavaliers. Caris LeVert chipped in with 17 points off the bench, while Isaac Okoro added 10.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 18 and Dort added 13 points in the first half, when the Thunder led by as many as 15 points before taking a 52-42 lead at the break.
But Oklahoma City’s advantage was gone within six minutes of the second half. Mitchell scored 10 points during Cleveland’s 20-10 run that tied the score at 62-62 in the third quarter and set up the tight finish.
–Field Level Media
