Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction | 01.19.26

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Odds & NBA Picks | 19-01-2026

Get ready for a captivating regular-season showdown as the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder (35-8) travel to Rocket Arena in Cleveland to face the Cleveland Cavaliers (24-19) on January 19, 2026, at 2:30 PM EST. This matchup pits one of the league’s most dominant forces against a Cavaliers squad looking to solidify their playoff aspirations amidst a challenging stretch.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Matchup Preview

Oklahoma City Thunder Key Stats & Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as an elite contender, driven by their dynamic young core and blistering pace. Their offense is spearheaded by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages an astounding 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, boasting an impressive 31.8 Player Rating. Rookie sensation Chet Holmgren anchors the paint, pulling down 8.5 rebounds per contest while providing crucial rim protection. OKC’s strength lies in their balanced attack and suffocating defense, consistently forcing turnovers and converting them into fast-break points. However, their depth will be tested in this particular contest.

Injury Report Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jalen Williams (Out): Williams has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Cavaliers.
• Isaiah Hartenstein (Out): Hartenstein (calf) won’t play in Monday’s game against the Cavaliers.
• Nikola Topic (Out): Topic has been diagnosed with testicular cancer, Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced Thursday, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman reports.
• Thomas Sorber (Out): The Thunder announced Friday that Sorber has sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during an offseason workout, NBA reporter Marc Stein reports.

Cleveland Cavaliers Key Stats & Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers, despite their winning record, have faced inconsistency, largely due to a string of significant injuries. Their offensive engine is All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who consistently delivers with 29.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game, holding a 29.2 Player Rating. Alongside him, Evan Mobley is a defensive anchor and strong rebounder, averaging 8.6 boards. The Cavaliers rely on their strong frontcourt and Mitchell’s explosive scoring, but the absence of key playmakers and shooters has hampered their offensive flow and spacing in recent outings.

Injury Report Cleveland Cavaliers

• Dean Wade (Out): Wade (knee) is listed as probable for Monday’s game against the Thunder.
• Sam Merrill (Out): Merrill (hand) has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Thunder.
• Darius Garland (Out): Garland will be re-evaluated in the next 7-to-10 days after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right big toe sprain.
• Max Strus (Out): Strus (foot) is expected to miss at least four more weeks, Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com reports.
• Chris Livingston (Out): Livingston agreed to a two-way contract with the Cavaliers on Friday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction & Best Bet

This matchup presents a fascinating dynamic. While the Thunder are undoubtedly the superior team with an exceptional record, they arrive in Cleveland significantly depleted. The absence of Jalen Williams is a critical blow to their secondary scoring and playmaking, and Isaiah Hartenstein‘s absence impacts frontcourt depth against a strong Cavaliers interior. Cleveland, despite their own extensive injury list including Darius Garland and Max Strus, will be playing at home with their two primary stars, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, healthy. The Cavaliers’ home-court advantage, combined with OKC’s key absences, makes the spread particularly appealing. Expect a hard-fought game where Cleveland leverages Mitchell’s scoring and Mobley’s defense to keep it close. For total points, despite the injuries, both teams still possess enough offensive firepower, particularly with Mitchell driving the Cavaliers and SGA leading the Thunder. The pace of play and individual brilliance should push the score higher than anticipated. Therefore, our definitive prediction is Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5 (Spread) and the total points to go over 234.5.