OKLAHOMA CITY – Without All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Cleveland Cavs’ seven-game winning streak. The Thunder guards really understood their defensive duties against All-Star Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and a completely healthy Cavs team. Oklahoma City led 28–5 in the first quarter, a 23-point deficit that Cleveland erased in the second half.
However, the Thunder’s two-point deficit was short-lived as its strong defense continued to make stops, including Isaiah Joe’s career-high five steals and game-high 22 points in Sunday’s 121–113 win. who addressed him exceptional performance After the Thunder’s win on Sunday.
“At the end of the day, I stay true to my game and let it come to me,” Joe said. “Being lower body, it allows for more action. Being able to be more aggressive. A teammate asks a little more of you, and whoever is out there just answers the call. So, I think we all take a little more pride.”
Isaiah Joe on his elite shooting and 5 steals: “At the end of the day, I stay true to my game. With the body being healthy, it allows for more action. Being able to be more aggressive…
Everyone there is answering the call right now. “We all feel a little more pride.” pic.twitter.com/durXXD1WuJ
-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026
Joe’s 22 points, including six threes, gave the Thunder seven players in double figures. Cason Wallace (20 points, 10 assists), who finished with three steals, Chet Holmgren (17 points, 15 rebounds), who recorded a double-double, and Isaiah Hartenstein, who added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Isaiah Joe’s defense shines in Thunder vs. Cavs
While Isaiah Joe continued his hot shooting streak, scoring at least two threes in 11 of his last dozen games, he also did his part defending the Cavs’ leading scoring tandem in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Against a healthy Cavs team, the Thunder won without All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their leading scorer and All-Defensive forward Jalen Williams.
Without Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso, two Thunder guards who make their presence felt on both ends of the floor, Joe Contribution went a long way. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault put Joe’s defense against the Cavs in perspective during his postgame media availability.
“With Harden and Mitchell, they’re heavy on looking for matchups, and they’re an experienced team that’s been well-coached. If you put a matchup out there that they like, they’ll have ways to try to get to it,” Daigneault said. “So, you have to be very, very cautious and disciplined in how you handle it. I thought their coverage tonight — they tried to go to him, they tried to go to anybody to get Dort and Cason away from those guys.
“The coverages were very tight. The coverages behind him were really good. That’s a part of him, but that’s who he is. He’s light. He’s not the biggest, strongest guy, but he performs at a high level. He’s fearless. He’s physical. And he plays hard. He plays hard all his minutes. So, you can knock him out in a game like this.”
Mark Daigneault on Isaiah Joe making defensive moves to guard James Harden and Donovan Mitchell pic.twitter.com/ZVazYlapJG
-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026
The Thunder have won four of their last five games without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Mitchell.
#Unsung #hero #steals #Cavs #soul #Shai #Gilgeous #Alexander #Jalen #Williams
