Thunder vs Cavaliers: How to Watch NBA Matchup

Key details on the upcoming game between the OKC Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 11:05am

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The OKC Thunder will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA matchup on Sunday at noon CST. The Thunder are coming off a home win over the Brooklyn Nets, but will be without several key players due to injuries. The Cavaliers have won 14 of their last 16 games and boast a high-powered offense led by the duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.

Why it matters

This game features two teams heading in opposite directions, with the Cavaliers surging and the Thunder dealing with key injuries. The outcome could impact the playoff positioning in the Western Conference, making this an important early-season matchup.

The details

The Thunder (43-14) are coming off a 105-86 home win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, but will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain) and Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain). The Cavaliers (36-21) escaped with a 118-113 road win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and have won 14 of their last 16 games. They recently added scoring threat James Harden to pair with Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM CST.
  • The Thunder are coming off a win over the Nets on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • The Cavaliers are coming off a win over the Hornets on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's leading scorer who is out with an abdominal strain.

Jalen Williams

A key contributor for the Thunder who is sidelined with a right hamstring strain.

Ajay Mitchell

A Thunder player dealing with an abdominal strain and left ankle sprain.

James Harden

The Cavaliers' newly acquired scoring threat who will pair with Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' star guard who leads their high-powered offense.

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What they’re saying

“Shot creation has been a struggle at times for OKC without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. And while it had enough firepower to beat Brooklyn, Cleveland is a much larger challenge.”

— Justin Martinez, NBA Writer (The Oklahoman)

What’s next

The outcome of this game could impact the playoff positioning in the Western Conference, making it an important early-season matchup to watch.

The takeaway

This game features two teams heading in opposite directions, with the surging Cavaliers posing a tough test for the injury-depleted Thunder. The ability of OKC to overcome its key absences will be crucial in determining the outcome of this intriguing NBA clash.