The Cleveland Cavaliers (36-21) face the Oklahoma City Thunder (43-14) in a highly anticipated interconference matchup on Sunday, February 22, 2026. This game pits the Eastern Conference’s fourth-place Cavaliers, who are riding a hot streak, against the Western Conference-leading Thunder, who are dealing with significant injuries to key players. Despite OKC’s superior record, Cleveland enters as the betting favorite due to the Thunder’s depleted roster. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the game details, including analysis of team performance, key factors, and betting insights.
Venue Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
This state-of-the-art arena, home to the Thunder since 2008, has a capacity of over 18,000 and is known for its electric atmosphere, especially during nationally televised games like this one on ABC.
Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PST).
The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC, with radio coverage on SiriusXM, WWLS/WKY (for OKC), and WTAM/WMMS (for CLE).
Recent Team Forms
Both teams are coming off wins in their last outings before this matchup, but Cleveland’s momentum is stronger. Here’s a summary of their last five games:
| Team | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| CLE | Feb 20, 2026 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 118-113 | Donovan Mitchell: 32 pts; 7th straight win. |
| CLE | Feb 19, 2026 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 112-84 | Mitchell: 17 pts; Dominant defensive effort. |
| CLE | Feb 7, 2026 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 132-126 | Mitchell: 35 pts; High-scoring road win. |
| CLE | Feb 4, 2026 (approx.) | Various | Wins in 4 of last 5 | 9-1 in last 10 games overall; 7-3 ATS. |
| OKC | Feb 20, 2026 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 105-86 | Jared McCain: 21 pts; Balanced scoring despite absences. |
| OKC | Feb 7, 2026 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 106-112 | Struggles without key players. |
| OKC | Feb 4, 2026 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 106-116 | Back-to-back losses. |
| OKC | Feb 3, 2026 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 128-92 | Strong defensive showing. |
| OKC | Feb 1, 2026 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 121-111 | SGA: 34 pts (pre-injury). |
The Cavaliers are on a seven-game winning streak, with a 9-1 record in their last 10 contests, showcasing elite offense (averaging 120+ points in wins) and improved defense.
The Thunder snapped a two-game skid with their win over the Nets but have gone 3-2 in their last five, hampered by injuries. OKC’s defense remains top-tier (holding opponents under 100 points in recent wins), but their offense has dipped without star power.
Injury Report
Injuries heavily favor Cleveland in this matchup. The Thunder are without multiple starters and rotation players, which could severely impact their two-way play.
- Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Out: Max Strus (left foot; Jones fracture surgery).
- Out (G League): Tristan Enaruna, Riley Minix.
- The Cavs are otherwise healthy, with stars like Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland available.
- Oklahoma City Thunder:
- Out: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain).
- Out: Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
- Out: Alex Caruso (left ankle sprain).
- Out: Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain).
- Out: Thomas Sorber (right ACL; surgical recovery).
- OKC’s absences remove their MVP (SGA), an All-Star (Williams), and a defensive stalwart (Caruso), forcing reliance on depth like Chet Holmgren, Jared McCain, and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Key
Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles, though OKC’s injuries shift the dynamics:
- Donovan Mitchell (CLE) vs. Lu Dort/Isaiah Joe (OKC): Mitchell, averaging 28+ PPG, faces a weakened Thunder backcourt without SGA or Caruso. Expect Mitchell to exploit mismatches for 30+ points.
- Evan Mobley (CLE) vs. Chet Holmgren (OKC): A clash of versatile bigs. Mobley (16 PPG, 10 RPG) brings physicality, while Holmgren (17 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.5 BPG) excels in rim protection. This could decide rebounding and paint control.
- Darius Garland (CLE) vs. Jared McCain (OKC): Garland’s playmaking (20 PPG, 7 APG) vs. McCain’s recent hot streak (21 PPG in last game). McCain, a trade acquisition, has been a spark, but Garland’s experience gives CLE the edge.
- Other Notes: James Harden (CLE) could feast on OKC’s depleted perimeter defense, while Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC) will need to anchor the interior against Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Series History
The all-time series favors the Thunder (73-53), including a dominant 136-104 win over Cleveland on January 19, 2026.
OKC has won the last two head-to-heads, including a 134-114 victory on January 16, 2025.
However, those games featured a healthy Thunder roster. Cleveland’s last win over OKC came in a close 129-122 contest on January 8, 2025.
Overall, OKC holds a 23-20 edge in the last 43 meetings since 2005.
Betting Trends
- Trends: Cleveland is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games and 14-2 straight-up in their last 16 (25% ROI on ML bets).
OKC is 28-29 ATS overall and 0-1 ATS as 3.5+ point underdogs this season.
The over has hit in 6 of Cleveland’s last 10 games, but OKC’s undersized offense (due to injuries) could push toward the under.
Game Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers – 3.5
Oklahoma City Thunder 227.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, February 21, 2026
