CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers host the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder for one of the biggest games on Cleveland’s regular season schedule.
The Cavs (24-19) enter the Martin Luther King Jr. Day game still fighting to climb the Eastern Conference standings. The Thunder (35-8), meanwhile, enters with the best record in the NBA by a pretty good margin.
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This will be another marquee “measure” game for the Cavs, a team that may still be trying to find its identity in an injury-riddled season.
Follow here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from the January 19 Cavaliers-Thunder game. The announcement took place at 2:30 p.m. at Rocket Arena.
Cavs, Thunder score
The Cavaliers and Thunder are off to a fast start, with the Cavs up 8-7 two minutes into the game – or so it seemed.
Donovan Mitchell had a potential and -1 field goal turned into an offensive foul following a review, which took (at least) two points off the board.
Cleveland has made four of its first five attempts from the floor and, surprisingly, has yet to attempt a 3.
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Below is some pre-match information.
NBA All-Star starters announced. Is Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell a snub?
Cavs All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell has been a two-time starter in his career, but that won’t happen this season.
The All-Star starters were announced shortly before the Cavs and Thunder were informed. In the Eastern Conference, the players chosen were Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers).
Traded from the Utah Jazz to the Cavs in 2022, Mitchell was an All-Star starter in 2023 and 2025.
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In the Western Conference, the All-Star starters are Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs).
The All-Star reserves will be announced later this month, but the NBA has not yet specified a date.
Cavs vs. Thunder injury report
The Cavs will be without All-Star guard Darius Garland, who will be out for at least the next week with a Grade 1 sprain in his right big toe.
Cleveland will also be missing guard Sam Merrill (hand) and Max Strus (foot), who has yet to make his season debut. Forward Dean Wade (knee) was listed as likely to return, and the Cavs later announced he was available to face the Thunder by listing him as a starter.
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The Thunder are also banged up and have ruled out guard Jalen Williams (hamstring) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf).
Cavs starting lineup vs. Thunder
The Cavs announced that they would start the following players:
Cavaliers unveil City edition uniforms
The Cavs revealed their new City Edition uniforms on November 11.
How can I watch/stream/listen to the Cavs vs Thunder game?
The January 19 Cavs-Thunder game can be watched on NBC and Peacock. He can be heard on the radio on 100.7 WMMS, 1100 WTAM and S: LA MEGA 1300.
This article originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score today vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, updates and highlights
