CLEVELAND -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 43 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 32.6 seconds remaining as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-112 on Monday night in the first of a two-game set.
Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 35 shots, the most in the NBA during the first two weeks of the season, and made 14. He was 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes as the injury-depleted Thunder bounced back after two straight road losses by 20-plus points.
"He was putting a ton of pressure on their defense, and he had the look in his eye tonight, so we obviously rode him offensively," OKC coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. "It's not our identity for 82 games, but there's some nights when, like I said, you got a player like that that you got to just cut him loose, and he delivered in a big way."
The fourth quarter saw eight ties and eight lead changes before Gilgeous-Alexander drilled his fourth 3-pointer. Cleveland's Sam Merrill missed a perimeter shot from the corner before Ajay Mitchell made it a two-possession game by sinking two free throws with 15.4 seconds remaining.
Oklahoma City has been reeling since the loss of three starters to long-term injuries. Mitchell scored 20 and Isaiah Hartenstein pulled down 14 rebounds.
Gilgeous-Alexander matched his highest scoring total in 17 games against the Cavaliers.
Rookie Meleek Thomas, making his first NBA start, and Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 17 points apiece. Mitchell also had 11 assists and Evan Mobley had 16 points.
It was the Cavaliers' first loss at home in four games this season.
The first half had 15 lead changes and two ties before the Thunder went on a 16-6 run over the last five minutes of the second quarter to take a 59-48 lead at halftime.
Gilgeous-Alexander made a pair of free throws to give Oklahoma City a 69-55 advantage with 9:26 remaining in the third. The Cavaliers battled back by going 9 of 17 from beyond the arc in the quarter.
Cleveland opened the fourth on an 18-9 run but could not sustain its momentum.
The teams meet again on Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.