In a marquee Martin Luther King Jr. Day NBA matchup at Rocket Arena, the Oklahoma City Thunder jumped out to a strong start against the Cleveland Cavaliers, carrying momentum from their typically dominant campaign into the holiday slate.
This non-conference contest highlighted differences in health, depth, and star power between two playoff-hopeful teams.
Early Score Update
Oklahoma City Thunder: 23
Cleveland Cavaliers: 12
(as of mid-first quarter action)
This early snapshot shows OKC asserting pressure with a fast pace and aggressive offense.
Live scoring and statistics continue to update through official NBA game trackers.
What’s at Stake
The Thunder entered MLK Day with the best record in the NBA (35–8) and were favored to win, continuing their march toward home-court advantage in the Western Conference.
Cleveland, at 24–19, has been surging with a recent winning stretch that included key road victories, making this a litmus test for Cavs’ postseason viability.
Injury Reports: Key Absences and Status
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Update
The Cavs’ depth was tested significantly heading into the game:
Darius Garland – OUT (right toe sprain) – Missed this game and several upcoming matchups.
Sam Merrill – OUT (hand) – Expected back shortly but unavailable here.
Max Strus – OUT (foot) – Long-term absence.
Dean Wade – Probable (knee) – Expected to play but status was close.
Chris Livingston – OUT (knee/G League assignment) – Not active for this contest.
Without Garland’s playmaking and Strus’s shooting, Cleveland relied heavily on Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson and Evan Mobley to carry the offense.
Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Update
Despite league-leading form, Oklahoma City also dealt with absences that shaped the matchup:
Jalen Williams – OUT (right hamstring strain) – Key wing and secondary scorer unavailable.
Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf strain) – Long-term frontcourt absence.
Nikola Topic – OUT (groin) – Not available.
Thomas Sorber – OUT for season (knee) – Team depth impacted.
These injuries left more offensive responsibility on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, with bench players seeing expanded minutes.
Game Flow & Outlook
Oklahoma City’s early lead reflected its championship-level execution and ability to capitalize on mismatches, especially with Cleveland’s key guards sidelined or limited.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s role players were tasked with keeping the game competitive through hustle plays, defensive effort, and transitional scoring.
Star matchups to watch beyond the early frame:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Donovan Mitchell — Both are MVP-caliber scorers and primary offensive facilitators.
Chet Holmgren vs Evan Mobley/Jarrett Allen — A focal point in the paint for rebounding and rim protection.
Injury Impact on Strategy
The injuries on both sides forced rotations to adjust early:
Thunder leaned on defensively versatile wings to compensate for Williams’s absence.
Cavaliers deployed smaller lineups to generate spacing and counter OKC’s interior size without Garland.
Conclusion
While the full final score wasn’t captured in the live data available, early momentum favored Oklahoma City in this high-profile MLK Day matchup.
Both teams battled through notable injuries, but OKC’s deeper roster and star power gave them an early edge while Cleveland fought to stay within striking distance.
Check live NBA sources for finalized statistics and postgame analysis once the contest concludes.
