Cavs Stun Thunder With Win In Oklahoma City

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Thunder's relatively lazy play against lesser opponents finally caught up to them.

While Oklahoma City is used to turning it on in the fourth quarter and taking care of business, it proved that wasn't always the case with a 96-90 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Though the Thunder could never get into much of a rhythm offensively, it was the defensive effort that did them in.

They gave up 51 rebounds to the Cavaliers, who outrebounded OKC by 11.

Oklahoma City also gave up 21 offensive rebounds, allowing the Cavs to get a total of 15 more field goal attempts up in the game.

The game was tight throughout and went back and forth rapidly. OKC led by one at the end of the first quarter and by two at halftime.

It wasn't until late in the fourth that Cleveland managed to snap out of it and make a run.

A 3-pointer from Kevin Durant had his team up 85-82 with 3:14 to play, but Kyrie Irving and the Cavs went on a tear from there. Over the next 2:30, they went on a 12-0 run to lead by nine – the biggest lead for either team in the game – with 45 seconds to play.

Durant made a free throw and two dunks in the game's final 39 seconds but it wasn't enough to lift his team back in it.

The loss was only the second of the year at home for the Thunder, who fell to 31-9 overall.

Kevin Durant led all OKC players with 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 19. Serge Ibaka had a big game with 13 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.

Oklahoma City will look to bounce back with a quick turnaround on Saturday.

The Thunder host the league-worst Charlotte Bobcats with a 7 p.m. tipoff.