Player Grades: Cavs vs Thunder – Donovan Mitchell dishes 11 assists in loss

The Cleveland Cavaliers missed an opportunity against an injury-riddled Oklahoma City Thunder in their 117-112 loss.

Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Player of the game

Evan Mobley

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16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals

Kenny Atkinson said before the game that OKC’s defense would swarm the paint and make it difficult to feed the Cleveland bigs. He was right, as Mobley was forced out of the paint for the first three quarters and took roughly half of his shots from the perimeter.

It wasn’t until the fourth that Mobley was able to consistently assert himself in the paint. The Cavs found him on the roll multiple times, as he either converted at the rim or earned trips to the free-throw line. It wasn’t enough, but it was a quality adjustment that’s worth noting.

Grade: B

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Grades

Donovan Mitchell

17 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 turnovers

Mitchell struggled with his shot but worked his way to 11 assists by zipping the ball around the floor and being a willing passer. He looked particularly spry in the first quarter, wheeling and dealing without the threat of OKC’s usual perimeter defense.

The added playmaking was great and deserves to be mentioned. But, at the end of the day, the Cavs needed more than just 17 points on 17 shots.

Grade: B

James Harden

14 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover

Harden has settled into a groove in recent games. His turnovers are down, and his efficiency is on the rise. He shot 5-for-10 from the floor and generated advantages for his teammates throughout the night.

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However, Harden’s off-ball defense continues to be a weak point for Cleveland. And, the Cavs would like to see him score at a higher rate, especially when most of the team is struggling to shoot from downtown.

Grade: C+

Meleek Thomas

17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Thomas started tonight for Peyton Watson, marking the rookie’s first-ever start. He was beat on a handful of backdoor cuts, but held his own in isolation and was a positive influence on Cleveland’s offense. Thomas never stops running around the perimeter, and that activity, when packaged with…

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Publish date : 2026-11-03 03:42:00

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