Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops season-high 43 points including dagger 3 to lead hobbled Thunder past Cavs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a poor shooting night and played without several of his top teammates Monday.

It did not matter. The two-time MVP scored a season-high 43 points including a late go-ahead 3 that iced a 117-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The win snapped a two-game losing streak as the Thunder continue to adjust to playing without several of their best players.

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Starters Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace are all sidelined with long-term injuries. The Thunder also played Monday without Alex Caruso, who’s nursing a sprained right ankle.

Gilgeous-Alexander dagger seals OKC win

But they had Gilgeous-Alexander and that was a enough alongside a makeshift starting lineup for victory over the Eastern Conference hopeful Cavaliers. Gilgeous-Alexander shot just 40% from the field. But he hit the shots when they mattered most, most notably a late 3 that gave the Thunder the lead for good.

With the game tied at 112-112 in the final minute, Gilgeous-Alexander gained just enough separation form his defender, Sam Merrill, to pull up for a 3 from the left wing. The shot sank through the net for a 3-point Thunder lead with 32.6 seconds remaining.

The Cavaliers didn’t score again, and the Thunder secured the win to improve to 5-2.

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SGA: ‘Play the cards you’re dealt’

After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke with NBC about the Thunder adjusting in the face of injury adversity after entering the season on the short list of favorites to compete for an NBA title.

“Just figuring it out,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You never know what the future has in store for you. All you can do is play the cards you’re dealt.”

Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 43 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. He shot 14 of 35 from the field, 11 of 12 from the line and 4 of 8 from 3.

The 35 shots tied a career high and could be indicative of things to come with Williams and Holmgren sidelined. The All-Star tandem have been OKC’s second- and third-leading scorers behind Gilgeous-Alexander for the last three seasons.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up a career-high 35 field goal attempts in what could be a sign of things to…

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Author : Jason Owens

Publish date : 2026-11-03 03:24:00

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