Thunder overwhelm Cavaliers on MLK Day, hitting 23 threes in 136-104 road win

Oklahoma City’s perimeter shooting breaks game open after halftime in Cleveland

The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a decisive 136-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, turning a competitive first half into a one-sided finish behind high-volume 3-point shooting and balanced scoring.

Oklahoma City entered the day with the NBA’s best record and left Rocket Arena with another statement result, improving to 36-8. Cleveland fell to 24-20 after what became its most lopsided regular-season loss in nearly two seasons.

Game flow: close early, then Oklahoma City’s shooting surge

The Thunder led 66-51 at halftime after closing the second quarter on a 16-6 run that pushed a one-possession game into double digits. Cleveland briefly trimmed the margin to five late in the second quarter, but Oklahoma City answered with a sequence of efficient possessions and timely 3-pointers.

The separation widened dramatically in the fourth. Oklahoma City outscored Cleveland 45-25 in the final period, connecting on 10 of 13 shots from 3-point range in that quarter and finishing the game with 23 made 3-pointers, matching a season high. Overall, the Thunder shot 48.9% from beyond the arc, while Cleveland went 8 of 35 on 3s (22.9%).

Key performers

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, continuing a season-long stretch of high-output games.
• Chet Holmgren added 28 points as Oklahoma City repeatedly punished defensive collapses with kick-out threes and quick-hitting actions.
• Luguentz Dort hit five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points.
• Isaiah Joe scored 16 points, including pivotal makes during the second-quarter run.

For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell led with 19 points. Jaylon Tyson posted 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen scored 16 points in his 600th NBA game.

Injuries and rotation impact

Oklahoma City played without guard/forward Jalen Williams, who is expected to be reevaluated in a couple of weeks due to a right hamstring strain. During the game, Alex Caruso left in the first half with right groin soreness, and Jaylin Williams exited with a low back contusion, shortening the Thunder rotation further.

By the final minutes, the statistical gap from 3-point range and the Thunder’s fourth-quarter shot-making had turned the matchup into a rout.

What it means

The result underscored Oklahoma City’s ability to generate efficient offense even while shorthanded, particularly when its spacing and perimeter accuracy are intact. For Cleveland, the game highlighted how quickly outcomes can swing when long-range shooting falters against an opponent capable of sustained scoring bursts.