CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers welcome 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 matchup still fighting to make their way up the Eastern Conference standings. The Thunder (35-8), meanwhile, enter with the best record in the NBA by a pretty good margin.
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This will be another marquee “measuring stick” game for the Cavs, a team perhaps still trying to find its identity in an injury-riddled season.
Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from the Jan. 19 Cavaliers-Thunder game. Tip-off was at 2:30 p.m. at Rocket Arena.
Cavs, Thunder score
The Cavaliers and Thunder are off to a fast-paced start, with the Cavs up 8-7 two minutes into the game — or so it seemed.
Donovan Mitchell had a potential and-1 basket overturned into an offensive foul following a review, which took (at least) two points off the board.
Cleveland hit four of their first five attempts from the floor and, somewhat amazingly, haven’t yet attempted a 3.
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Below is some pregame information.
NBA All-Star starters announced. Is Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell a snub?
Cavs All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell has been an NBA All-Star starter twice in his career, but it won’t happen this season.
The All-Star starters were announced shortly before the Cavs and Thunder tipped off. 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).
All-Star reserves will be announced later this month, but the NBA has yet to specify a date.
Cavs vs Thunder injury report
The Cavs will be without All-Star guard Darius Garland, who will be sidelined for at least the next week with a Grade 1 sprain of 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 probable to return, and the Cavs later announced he is 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 they will start the following players:
Cavaliers unveil city edition uniforms
The Cavs unveiled their new City Edition uniforms Nov. 11.
How can I watch/stream/listen to the Cavs vs Thunder game?
The Jan. 19 Cavs-Thunder game can be watched on NBC and Peacock. It can heard on the radio on 100.7 WMMS, 1100 WTAM and S: LA MEGA 1300.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score today vs Oklahoma City Thunder updates, highlights