Game ID: 22500817
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 40 24 25 32 121CLE 25 30 31 27 113
CLE @ OKC ScoutingCLE @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 2 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 10 since 1/19, returns tonight: 24 min (89% of 27)
OUT Mitchell missed 8 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 1/29 after 16, 22 min since (91% of 24)
BACK Caruso back 2/03 after 6, 23 min since (117% of 19)
BACK Carlson back 2/04 after 3, 16 min since (137% of 12)
NEW Joe 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW J. Williams 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 14 to 19 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 3 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 9 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 2/09 after 10, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Caruso back 2/03 after 6, 23 min since (120% of 19)
NEW Joe 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 4 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 10 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 2/09 after 10, 22 min since (81% of 27)
BACK Caruso back 2/03 after 6, 19 min since (100% of 19)
NEW Joe 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 5 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 11 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 4 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 2/09 after 10, 22 min since (81% of 27)
NEW Joe 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 25 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 6 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 12 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 5 since 2/07, out tonight
NEW Joe 20 to 25 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 7 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 13 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 6 since 2/07, out tonight
NEW Joe 20 to 25 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/25 · back-to-backOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 8 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 14 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 7 since 2/07, returns tonight: 4 min (32% of 12)
NEW Joe 20 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 9 since 2/04, returns tonight: 34 min (100% of 34)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 15 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Carlson back 2/25 after 7, 4 min since (32% of 12)
NEW Wallace 26 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Dort 26 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 19 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 16 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 2/27 after 9, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Carlson back 2/25 after 7, 4 min since (32% of 12)
NEW Wallace 26 to 33 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 5 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 23 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Tomlin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 6 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 5 min (50% of 10)
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Mobley missed 7 since 1/28, returns tonight: 19 min (57% of 33)
OUT Wade missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 16 min (73% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/11 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 5 min since (50% of 10)
CLE availability going into 2/20 · back-to-backBACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 19 min since (57% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 16 min since (73% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/11 after 2, 9 min since (70% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
CLE availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restBACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 19 min since (57% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/11 after 2, 9 min since (70% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
CLE availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 3 min (16% of 16)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 3 min (26% of 10)
BACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 22 min since (67% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 20 min since (89% of 22)
CLE availability going into 2/25 · back-to-backOUT Nance Jr. missed 3 since 2/20, returns tonight: 8 min (61% of 12)
BACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 23 min since (70% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/24 after 2, 3 min since (16% of 16)
BACK Proctor back 2/11 after 2, 6 min since (58% of 10)
CLE availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restBACK Mobley back 2/19 after 7, 23 min since (70% of 33)
BACK Wade back 2/19 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/24 after 2, 12 min since (74% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/25 after 3, 8 min since (61% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/24 after 2, 3 min since (26% of 10)
CLE availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Harden missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 36 min (103% of 35)
OUT Mitchell missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/24 after 2, 19 min since (115% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 2/25 after 3, 8 min since (61% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 2/24 after 2, 11 min since (105% of 10)
NEW Schröder 19 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Joe at 18 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (6 straight), Jal. Williams (2 straight), Mitchell (12 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Allen at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 116, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
2/09 @ LAL 119-110 — OKC notes
OKC won 119-110. OKC shot 48% (42 of 87) to LAL's 50%, 14 of 33 from three, and went to the line 29 times to LAL's 23 — 21 points from the stripe to their 16. Jal. Williams led with 23 (6 of 17, 11 of 13 at the line); Joe added 19, Caruso 17. The hinge was Q2, 36-28: a lead of 1 became 9. Caruso was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/11 @ PHX 136-109 — OKC notes
OKC won 136-109. OKC shot 58% (52 of 89) to PHX's 47%, 15 of 36 from three, and went to the line 19 times to PHX's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 8. Jal. Williams led with 28 (11 of 12); Joe added 21, K. Williams 15. The hinge was Q1, 37-25: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Hartenstein was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/12 vs MIL 93-110 — OKC notes
OKC lost 93-110. OKC shot 37% (31 of 83) to MIL's 46%, 15 of 45 from three, and went to the line 20 times to MIL's 7 — 16 points from the stripe to their 5. OKC turned it over 16 times to MIL's 10, and MIL turned those into 9 steals. Joe led with 17 (5 of 11, 4 of 9 from three); Holmgren added 16, McCain 13. Q4 was theirs, 20-21, but the other 3 periods went 89-73 against them. J. Williams's -19 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 vs BKN 105-86 — OKC notes
OKC won 105-86. OKC shot 42% (35 of 83) to BKN's 37%, 13 of 35 from three. McCain led with 21 (7 of 12, 3 of 6 from three); Holmgren added 15, Joe 11. The hinge was Q2, 29-10: OKC came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 17, and the lead reached 20. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/22 vs CLE 121-113 — OKC notes
OKC won 121-113. OKC shot 49% (42 of 86) to CLE's 48%, 21 of 41 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CLE's 19 — 16 points from the stripe to their 14. Joe led with 22 (6 of 13, 6 of 11 from three); Wallace added 20, Holmgren 17. The hinge was Q1, 40-25: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Hartenstein was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/24 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 104, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ingram at 22 and Quickley at 20 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Joe at 18 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (7 straight), Jal. Williams (3 straight), Mitchell (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 41 percent from three to Toronto's 35 and the turnovers, OKC giving it away 15 times a game to Toronto's 11. Call it Toronto 112, OKC 111, OKC keeping it close.
2/25 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Duren at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Stewart (4 straight), Huerter (3 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Joe at 19 and Holmgren at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (8 straight), Jal. Williams (4 straight), Mitchell (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 41 percent from three to Detroit's 34. Call it Detroit 113, OKC 111, OKC keeping it close.
2/27 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wallace at 16 and Joe at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (9 straight), Jal. Williams (5 straight), Mitchell (15 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Watson (7 straight), Gordon (13 straight), Pickett (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-9 a night and OKC plus-1 and the line, where Denver takes 28 free throws a game to OKC's 21. Call it OKC 115, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
3/01 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Marshall at 19 and Washington at 16 a game. Without Flagg (6 straight), Washington (2 straight), Nembhard (8 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wallace at 18 and McCain at 14 a game. Without Jal. Williams (6 straight), Mitchell (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 110 a night to Dallas's 124 and the line, where Dallas takes 30 free throws a game to OKC's 22. Call it OKC 119, Dallas 114.
2/09 @ DEN 119-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 119-117. CLE shot 47% (43 of 92) to DEN's 45%, 15 of 45 from three, and got to the line 22 times to DEN's 35. Mitchell led with 32 (11 of 23, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Harden added 22, Allen 22. The hinge was Q4, 32-25: CLE came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. CLE trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 65-58. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/11 vs WAS 138-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 138-113. CLE shot 54% (45 of 83) to WAS's 40%, 16 of 38 from three, and went to the line 37 times to WAS's 18 — 32 points from the stripe to their 15. CLE turned it over 21 times to WAS's 14, and WAS turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 51-40 for them. Merrill led with 32 (11 of 12, 9 of 10 from three); Mitchell added 30, Allen 21. The hinge was Q1, 40-24: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/19 vs BKN 112-84 — CLE notes
CLE won 112-84. CLE shot 51% (44 of 86) to BKN's 34%, 12 of 35 from three. The glass went 56-36 for them. Mitchell led with 17 (7 of 12, 2 of 4 from three); Harden added 16, Allen 15. The hinge was Q1, 34-16: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 43. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
2/20 @ CHA 118-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-113. CLE shot 53% (41 of 77) to CHA's 39%, 10 of 21 from three, and went to the line 28 times to CHA's 22 — 26 points from the stripe to their 21. Mitchell led with 32 (9 of 22, 2 of 7 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Allen added 26, Harden 18. The hinge was Q1, 30-20: from level to 10 ahead. Ellis was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/22 @ OKC 113-121 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-121. CLE shot 48% (43 of 89) to OKC's 49%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 19 times to OKC's 25. Mitchell led with 20 (9 of 19, 0 of 6 from three); Harden added 20, Merrill 20. Q2 was theirs, 30-24, the deficit cut from 15 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 97-83 against them.
2/24 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 19 a game. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Towns at 23 a game. Without McBride (12 straight), Clarkson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-4 a night and New York minus-1. Call it Cleveland 117, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
2/25 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rollins at 23 and Porter Jr. at 22 a game. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (12 straight), Prince (48 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Allen at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 27 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 17 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Milwaukee's 112. Call it Cleveland 115, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.
2/27 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Duren at 27 and Cunningham at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Stewart (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Allen at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland plus-5. Call it Detroit 115, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/01 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 22 and Claxton at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Johnson (23 straight), Etienne (37 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Allen at 22 a game. Without Harden (2 straight), Mitchell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Brooklyn's 123 and the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-2 a night and Brooklyn minus-9. Call it Cleveland 118, Brooklyn 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDM D. Mitchell
DS D. Schröder
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JH J. Harden
JT J. Tyson
KE K. Ellis
NT N. Tomlin
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
JM J. McCain
JW J. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
NT N. Topić
TO Topic
CLE/OKC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Short-handed Thunder hit 21 3s to beat Cavaliers 121-113, snapping Cleveland’s 7-game streak
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Isaiah Joe scored 22 points and Cason Wallace added 20 points and 10 assists to help the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-113 on Sunday.
Chet Holmgren had 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Oklahoma City (44-14), which made 21 of 41 3-point attempts (51.2%), including six by Joe, and converted 17 turnovers into 31 points.
The Thunder played without injured starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring). and key contributors Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) and Alex Caruso (sprained left ankle).
Donovan Mitchell , James Harden and Sam Merrill each had 20 points for Cleveland (36-22), which lost for the first time in eight games. The Cavaliers, who made 13 of 39 3-pointers (33.3%), fell behind early but couldn't complete the comeback against the hot-shooting Thunder.
Oklahoma City turned to the long ball early and built a 28-5 lead on the strength of five 3-pointers, including three by Joe. Oklahoma City made 14 of 22 (63.6%) from beyond the arc before halftime, but by then Cleveland had cut the lead to 64-55 on a jumper by Mitchell to beat the buzzer.
The Cavaliers got eight quick points from Merrill in the third quarter, and took a 69-68 lead — their first of the game — on a short jumper Jared Allen. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jared McCain and Joe gave the Thunder an 82-75 advantage. But Cleveland scored 11 of the next 14 points, and got a 3-pointer by Jaylon Tyson to tie the score 86-all.
Oklahoma City got consecutive 3s from Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams and Wallace to build a 102-95 lead in the fourth. Back-to-back jumpers by Isaiah Hartenstein , who had 10 points in the quarter, gave the Thunder a 106-98 lead they never relinquished.