Cavaliers vs. Thunder Final Score: Oklahoma City Wins 117–112 on November 2, 2026

Result update checked November 3, 2026. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 117–112 on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The Associated Press confirms the five-point final margin and reports that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 43 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 32.6 seconds remaining. This is a completed 2026–27 NBA regular-season game, not an upcoming matchup. The Associated Press game report gives the closing-game account, and the NBA game center is the destination for official game details and the box score. Game ID: 0022600158.

Cavaliers vs. Thunder final score and game details

The Rocket Arena event listing confirms the Cleveland venue, November 2 date, and 7:00 p.m. Eastern scheduled start. The NBC Sports game announcement identifies Peacock and NBCSN as the national outlets. These schedule details describe how the event was advertised before it took place; the 117–112 result is the important change since the original pregame version of this article. Do not interpret a broadcast listing or a schedule timestamp as the final score.

How Oklahoma City secured the 117–112 win

The AP recap identifies Gilgeous-Alexander as the decisive offensive player. He made 14 of 35 field-goal attempts and 11 of 12 free throws in 38 minutes. His three-pointer with 32.6 seconds left put Oklahoma City ahead in a tightly contested finish. Cleveland had an opportunity to respond, but Sam Merrill missed a shot from the corner. Ajay Mitchell then made two free throws with 15.4 seconds remaining to stretch the Thunder lead to two possessions.

The result was not a wire-to-wire win. Cleveland had led 30–26 after the opening quarter before Oklahoma City took control of the second period. According to the AP account, the Thunder finished the half on a 16–6 run and held a 59–48 halftime advantage. Oklahoma City pushed its advantage into double digits early in the third quarter, but Cleveland responded with outside shooting. The Cavaliers made nine of 17 three-point attempts in that quarter, putting the contest back within reach.

The fourth quarter featured eight ties and eight lead changes, according to AP. Cleveland opened the period with an 18–9 run, but the lead continued to change hands. Those late possessions explain why the 117–112 result cannot be reduced to the halftime deficit or to one player’s scoring total. Gilgeous-Alexander’s late shot and Ajay Mitchell’s free throws were the decisive finishing plays reported in the contemporaneous recap.

Who led the Thunder and Cavaliers?

These figures are from the Associated Press reporting of the completed game. They are not projections, season averages, or statistics from the next Thunder–Cavaliers meeting. For individual shooting splits, minutes, team totals, play-by-play and any later official statistical corrections, consult the NBA box score and game center. An article prepared before tipoff may display pregame team records; those should not be substituted for the result or for updated standings.

When and where did the game take place?

The game took place on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Its scheduled start was 7:00 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00). Cleveland returned from Eastern Daylight Time to standard time on Sunday, November 1, so the time-zone abbreviation on game night was EST, not EDT. The National Institute of Standards and Technology daylight saving time guidance explains the U.S. autumn clock change.

The November 3 UTC date is not evidence of a different game or a late-night tipoff in Cleveland. It is the same scheduled instant represented in a different time zone. The actual finishing time is not asserted here; the table is about scheduled tipoff, not the date or time of the final buzzer or the publication of the game recap.

What were the national TV and streaming options?

NBC Sports scheduled the game for Peacock and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), with its NBA Showtime pregame program beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST, half an hour before the advertised 7:00 p.m. start. Michael Grady was listed for play-by-play, with Robbie Hummel and Austin Rivers as the Thunder and Cavaliers analysts in NBC Sports’ “On the Bench” presentation. These are confirmed pregame broadcast arrangements from the October 29 NBC Sports announcement.

The distinction between platforms matters: NBCSN is not the same channel as the national over-the-air NBC broadcast network. Peacock is a streaming service, whereas NBCSN access depends on a participating television package or platform. Fans who missed the completed game should check Peacock’s NBA page and their own provider for any replay, highlight, or on-demand offering. A live listing from November 2 does not establish that a full replay remains available today, or that a specific subscription includes it.

NBC Sports’ original scheduling information applied to U.S. coverage. Viewers in other countries should consult the NBA’s regional rights and service listings rather than assume the same Peacock or NBCSN access applies internationally. The game was also listed with radio options including Cleveland’s WTAM 1100 / 100.7 WMMS and Oklahoma City’s WWLS 98.1 FM; access to archived audio is separate and has not been independently confirmed.

What changed from the original Cavaliers–Thunder preview?

Before November 2 tipoff, this page correctly presented the time, venue, matchup and scheduled viewing options but could not report a final result. With the game now complete, the 117–112 Thunder victory and Gilgeous-Alexander’s 43-point performance replace that pregame uncertainty. A prediction about defensive matchups is not equivalent to a recorded possession; the verified outcome should take priority over speculative keys to the game.

The pregame discussion also mentioned injury and starting-lineup uncertainty. Such information is a dated snapshot and is less useful after the contest than a final participation record. The AP report confirms that Meleek Thomas made his first NBA start and documents the actual leading scorers. Anyone checking who played, who did not play, or the exact rotations should review the completed-game box score rather than assume every pregame designation was ultimately unchanged.

Did Oklahoma City and Cleveland play again?

This November 2 game was reported as the first of a two-game set, with the teams scheduled to meet again in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. That is a separate scheduled game, not an extension of the 117–112 result in Cleveland. The venue, local tipoff, injury statuses, viewing rights and outcome must be checked against its own fixture and NBA game identifier. The NBA November 2 game listing and November 2 game center are the appropriate references for the completed Cleveland contest.

Where to check the final box score, highlights and next updates

Start with the official NBA Thunder at Cavaliers game center for the archived game, and compare its details with the Associated Press recap if you are verifying the finish. The NBA’s game tabs provide routes to the box score and play-by-play. Highlights or full replays may appear on official NBA or broadcaster channels, but their availability can depend on geography, platform and time since the event. Be careful with results snippets that still show a live fourth-quarter score: those may be stale snapshots rather than the final 117–112.

Bottom line: On November 2, 2026, Oklahoma City beat Cleveland 117–112 at Rocket Arena. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 43 points and a go-ahead three-pointer in the last minute. The game was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Cleveland EST (UTC−05:00), equivalent to November 3 at 00:00 UTC, with U.S. national coverage listed on Peacock and NBCSN. This result is verified as of the November 3 update; any subsequent matchup should be checked separately.