Cavs Let Thunder Steal Home Opener

Photo via Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland – The Cavs hosted the Thunder tonight and after an abysmal first half that saw the Cavs shoot 3-22 from three, rally to take control in the second half, only to lose in the final minute. A 15-3 run to end the game for the Thunder allowed them to leave with a 108-105 win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points while rookie Chet Holmgren added 16 points 13 rebounds, and 7 blocks. The Cavs were led by Donovan Mitchell who finished with 43 points. Evan Mobley added 14 points and 15 rebounds. Caris Levert scored 15 of his 17 in the second half.

The first half offensively was just plain bad. The Cavs shot 6% from three and looked to be struggling without All Star PG Darius Garland. Without a PG, the offense just looked bogged down and the Cavs couldn’t get easy shots. The defense the Cavs are known for kept them in the game as despite them not having a flow on offense, were only down at the half by 10, 52-42.

The second half saw Isaac Okoro get hit in the face, fall down face first, not move from the ground, and still be called for a foul…. Correct. You read that right. And that’s when the Cavs woke up. Threes from Mitchell and Levert and a thunderous dunk from Mobley had the Cavs right back in. the Cavs went on a 22-9 run in the third and entering the fourth, seemed to have all the momentum.

Starting the fourth, Max Strus hit back-to-back threes, and the Cavs took the lead. And kept the lead through the fourth. With 1:30 to play, and the Cavs up 9, the Thunder hit three straight threes to bring them back. It was the same offense the Cavs struggled with at times last year in late game situations. A lot of Mitchell trying to find a crease, and ending with a bad shot, or turnover. True he didn’t have his All-Star PG in there to take some pressure off, and Mitchell WAS cooking, it just…. it just seemed like last year.

The Thunder came back and stole a winnable game due to us not being able to get quality shots the last ¾ offensive possessions. After free throws by SGA to go ahead, Mitchell dribbled, and the ball was stolen to end the game. Thunder walked out with a win, even though they were out played in the second half.

Look, it’s early. The Cavs will be fine. Just, being this was the first game back at home since the first-round playoff loss to the Knicks, and the Cavs lose in a similar fashion… it left a bad taste in people’s mouths. But the Cavs will look to even things out tomorrow night as they host the Indiana Pacers. Game starts at 7pm right back at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse