Thunder’s 21 three-pointers and turnover points end Cavaliers’ seven-game streak, 121-113 in Oklahoma City

A fast, mistake-filled opening put Cleveland in a hole it could not fully erase

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game winning streak ended Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, with a 121-113 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Oklahoma City improved to 44-14, while Cleveland fell to 36-22.

The game’s defining themes were Oklahoma City’s volume and efficiency from 3-point range and Cleveland’s giveaways. The Thunder made 21 of 41 shots from beyond the arc (51.2%) and turned Cleveland’s 17 turnovers into 31 points, creating a margin that held even as the Cavaliers stabilized after a shaky start.

Short-handed Thunder reshuffled and still controlled the game’s math

Oklahoma City played without injured starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain), and also without Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) and Alex Caruso (left ankle sprain). Even with that group sidelined, the Thunder’s spacing and ball movement consistently generated clean perimeter looks.

Isaiah Joe led Oklahoma City with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Cason Wallace added 20 points and 10 assists, repeatedly pressuring Cleveland’s defense into rotations that opened catch-and-shoot opportunities. Chet Holmgren posted 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, anchoring the paint while also helping sustain possessions.

Cleveland’s scoring was balanced, but the early deficit proved costly

Cleveland had three 20-point scorers: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Sam Merrill. Merrill’s shot-making helped the Cavaliers stay connected; he hit six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points.

Still, Cleveland’s 3-point efficiency lagged behind Oklahoma City’s. The Cavaliers went 13 of 39 from deep (33.3%), a gap that mattered in a game where both teams found stretches of rhythm offensively. In the end, Cleveland’s attempts to win the possession battle were undermined by the turnover total and the Thunder’s conversion rate after those mistakes.

What decided it

• Three-point disparity: Oklahoma City 21 made 3s on 51.2% shooting; Cleveland 13 made 3s on 33.3%.
• Turnover damage: Cleveland’s 17 turnovers became 31 Thunder points.
• Playmaking edge: Wallace’s 10 assists helped Oklahoma City maintain pace even through Cleveland’s comeback pushes.

Cleveland cut into the margin multiple times, but Oklahoma City’s perimeter shot-making and efficiency on turnovers repeatedly restored separation.

The result closed a nationally televised afternoon with a clear lesson in game margins: when one team wins the 3-point line decisively and turns live-ball mistakes into points, even a three-scorer 20-point night can come up short.