The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a narrow 122–120 road loss to the Miami Heat in their previous outing, but the bigger concern came in the third quarter when Jalen Williams exited the game with a right knee injury and did not return. The team has yet to provide a detailed diagnosis or timetable for his absence.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a stellar performance with a game-high 39 points, but Oklahoma City struggled defensively after halftime, allowing 62 second-half points. Chet Holmgren was unable to contain Bam Adebayo inside, as the Heat center dominated with 30 points in the paint.
The Cleveland Cavaliers edged the Philadelphia 76ers 117–115 at home behind a breakout performance from second-year forward Jaylon Tyson, who erupted for a career-high 39 points to lead the way. Evan Mobley sealed the win with a clutch dunk in the final moments, finishing with 15 points and five rebounds. With starting guard Darius Garland sidelined due to right toe soreness, Craig Porter Jr. stepped into the lineup and impressed as a facilitator, dishing out a team-high 11 assists.
Williams is Oklahoma City’s second offensive option, and his potential absence could impact the Thunder’s rotations and shot creation. On the Cleveland side, Donovan Mitchell struggled last game, scoring just 13 points on poor shooting. Against the Thunder, he is likely to face aggressive defensive attention, possibly even double teams. Without Garland, Cleveland’s offensive ceiling appears limited.
Despite the injury concerns, the defending champions have consistently shown resilience. With their depth and defensive adjustments, Oklahoma City is well-positioned to bounce back and secure a road win against the Cavaliers.
Point Spread Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers to lose against the spread
