Live Thread: Cavs @ Thunder
2026-02-22Good afternoon CtB!
The Cavs have traversed to the Red Bed Plains of Oklahoma City to take on the defending champion Thunder for a nationally televised NBA showcase and potential 2026 NBA Finals preview. The Cavs are looking for a solid road win against a quality opponent in the midst of a brutal stretch of the schedule. For the Thunder, they’re load management a variety of injuries and just looking to get healthy going into the post-season. As such, the Cavs have more to lose and less to gain with a win. But this is the kind of pressure that the good guys need to test out their new acquisitions in a hostile, pressurized environment. Let’s see how they fare…
Tip off is scheduled for 1:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on ABC, Go Cavs!
That block OBVIOUSLY was a goaltend.
5 PT swing.
OMG blatant goaltend by Lolmgren
Off the backboard.
The Umlaut!
Smart play Schröder to force the foul call
And then Allen with a TO. Down 3.
JA come on. Dumb turnover.
There was a play where Donovan did a “Tatum” on Dort, shoved him out of the frame before hitting a jumper. “That” is the degree of reciprocity needed sometimes, not hurting anyone but matching the physicality.
Bad TO from Harden & OKC in the bonus.
Nice hustle back on d by Harden
Allen heating up
Nice finish, Dort.
Let Sam take the 3s, everyone else attack.
That last two minutes one of the best sequences of the year. Starting Merrill over Wade in the second half pays off right away. Two threes, then he “anticipates” getting run of the line the next time and is already starting to dribble past while the defender’s still closing out – 2 more. Then they set up Mobley against Chet in the post, bail out and then do it AGAIN until Mobley converts. That part I liked the best; don’t let Chet intimidate you.
WIN OR LOSE—- COMPETE ON NATIONAL TV —- COME AWAY WITH A “ GOOD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH—- HOPE— CONFIDENCE “. ———— WE ALL KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY WE WOULD LOSE IN “ THE HARDEN ERA “ BUT LETs COMPETE/ NOT GET BLOWN OUT——- MOBES IS “ RUSTIER THAN MY “57” CHEVY “
Yosemite Sam
8 wuick points for Sam. Down to 4.
Quick.
.
Nice, Nate.
Merrill starts the 2nd for Wade.
Sure would like to see our bigs maybe show up for the game today.
Only 1 TO in the 2nd quarter. 11-11 on that now.
Shooting:
Cavs 46% FGs, 23% 3PT
OKC: 54% FGs, 64% 3PT
Mitchell takes a very dumb fadeaway 3 with 49 secs left and OKC cans one on the other end in semi transition. 6 point swing. Fortunately Cavs ran ground & pound offense with 2 o-boards to close out the game clock. Spida hits tough floater at the buzzer to cut the halftime diff to an AC approved -9.
His decision making is questionable sometimes. He is a gunner at heart.
He can get that shot with :01 left on the clock. Don’t take it early.
I hated Donovan’s shot on the possession that started with a minute left; an early contested 3 that was unnecessary. But that said, he has done some incredible work to get himself open and convert buckets during Q2, and hit buzzer beaters from midrange in both quarters.
Yep. The first stint was bad, scoreless 2 TOs.
He has been good since. 6-8 for 15 pts. But the airball 3 & the pass into the 5th row were really poor. No assists.
Merrill & Ellis were good.
Gonna need better from everyone else.
Chucky from Mitchell airball.
Still, got it under 10 with a better move after JA hitting the glass got us an extra possession.
Try to take the lead after 3.
Down 9 at halftime after being -23 midway through Q1. And without ever getting hot from 3. I’ll take it.
10. Win the last 2.
Isiah Joe is like an upgrade on Jalen Williams today, damn!
He can get crazy hot.
Down to 8.
That was a hell of a move and finish on three guys s by Allen
We have had a ton of chances to get it under 10 and have failed.
It doesn’t help that OKC hits a triple every time they get a little daylight.
Oof. Mitchell passes to the fourth row.
How was that not FTs? WTF?
None for Donovan but yes for Wiggins.
Thunder now with 10 turnovers themselves. It’s becoming a different game.
Nice D from Tomlin on Chet.
Lolmgren
As AWFUL as the first 8 minutes were . . . If you remember last year’s game in OKC, today they at least have done a much better job today of finally settling down and getting back into the game. Donovan has got to stop leaving his feet and “then” deciding to pass, bc OKC eats those up every time. And in general they have to attack quickly, especially anyone other than Harden; if you’re deliberate on offense OKC swarms you. I love Keon; he brings all of Okoro’s best strengths as a man defender PLUS the disruptiveness and instinct… Read more »
Dang, Harden with a good look to cut to 8.
K3on bringing the energy!
Back to 15.
Nice pick six, Keon.
Our D needs to improve by a LOT
Cavs been bum slaying for too long. Have to adjust to real competition.
Yep. Denver is the only good win, and they are poor on D.
NEED ENERGY FROM SOMEONE!!!!
Let’s hope that gets Schröder going.
Ellis pesting.
NOT THE SHOWING YOU WANT ON NATIONAL TV —— CAN HEAR THE “ MEDIA HARDEN BASHING “ ALREADY——LFG CAVS !!!
Why didn’t Tyson stay with he switch on that williams three?
Tyson off.
SIZE ISSUES—-HEAR NIGHTLY COMPLAINTS FROM “ THE “ MRS NOMAD 👺🤪
Well, down to 15.
But 10 TOs in a quarter is pathetic. And 8-12 from deep for OKC seems unsustaiable, but a lot of them were wide open.
17 pts off TOs for them. That’s the diff.
We need to get this down under 10 (or better) by half.
What an OKCavalanche!
Down to 15. Cavs not ready to play this early.
Checking in from Vegas. Looks like a size issue so far
NEED STOPS FOLLOWED BY STRONG POSSESSIONS—-LFG CAVS
Merrill hits a couple shots.
But this has been piss poor.
Still a ton of time. Let’s get it under 15 by end of quarter & 10 by half.
10 TOs.
25-5.
Not ready for prime time.
28-5.
Well they solved their rebounding problem. Just turn it over every possession and give up easy buckets. Nothing to rebound.
2 more TOs.
9.
Another TO. 3 for Harden.
Dennis, Sam, Tyson in.
Jfc. Time to do some chores.
Every starter has at least one TO. So at least we are well balanced.
7 TOs. Pathetic.
Allen butterfingers + 2 more from Mitchell.
Time to yank everyone but Harden.
Well this is embarrassing.
We are gonna need a big night from Harden + Merrill + Tyson.
Dort usually locks Mitchell up. And Hard Rock & Chet matchbup well with JA & Allen. Wallace is also an excellent defender and he’ll take Harden.
We cannot settle for early triples. 4 early TOs.
YEAH WE ALL LOOK RUSTY —— NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GETTING STOPS —— PUTRID START 🤮
Cool start.
And now 2 quick tripe misses from Wade & Mitchell.
9-0 Thunder.
2 Harden TOs and 2 bad Mobley isos.
Mobley showing rust.
1) Get the W
2) Stay healthy
3) Continue integrating the new pueces
Thunder missing MVP SGA, All NBA & All Defense Jalen Williams, Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, and C Sorber.
Cavs full go save for Strus.
Let’s TCB and get ready for NY. Thunder will still defend. Hard Rock & Chet are still there. Take care of the ball rebound & play with some intensity, & we should be OK.
Just coming here to get this. Thanks for getting LT, Chris.
Yes sir! Can’t watch at work so got it done early lol