OKC 121, CLE 113: Wallace Fills Stat Sheet With Double-Double
Kwame Asante
Junior Accountant · Oklahoma City Thunder fan
Thunder Edge Cavaliers in Shai-Less Upset, Cason Wallace Puts League on Notice
Look, I'm going to lead with the obvious because I'm still buzzing about it. The Thunder just beat Cleveland without their reigning MVP on the floor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't play, which means Oklahoma City rolled out a completely different lineup, and they still found a way to win 121-113. That's the kind of depth that wins championships, and it's why I'm a bit smug about riding this Thunder wave all season.
But let's talk about what actually happened last night, because this game had some genuine fantasy storylines that matter for your lineups going forward.
Top Performers
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chet Holmgren | 46.0 | 51.0 | 17/15/4 | 17.4/8.8/1.7 | -0.4 |
| Cason Wallace | 55.0 | 47.8 | 20/4/10 | 8.3/3.1/2.5 | +11.7 |
| Isaiah Joe | 49.0 | 40.9 | 22/2/3 | 10.8/2.6/1.4 | +11.2 |
| James Harden | 45.0 | 40.5 | 20/5/9 | 24.6/4.8/8.2 | -4.6 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 37.0 | 38.9 | 20/7/5 | 28.6/4.5/5.9 | -8.6 |
| Dennis Schröder | 31.0 | 30.3 | 11/4/7 | 12.1/3.0/5.1 | -1.1 |
| Jarrett Allen | 25.0 | 29.6 | 11/13/2 | 14.8/8.5/2.0 | -3.8 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 29.0 | 26.4 | 13/7/4 | 10.7/9.5/3.6 | +2.3 |
| Sam Merrill | 31.0 | 23.6 | 20/3/0 | 13.4/2.3/2.2 | +6.6 |
| Luguentz Dort | 22.0 | 22.6 | 12/3/2 | 8.8/3.7/1.3 | +3.2 |
Cason Wallace Is Not Your Average Ball Handler
Right, so this is the bit where I get to tell you about Cason Wallace. Kid went for 20 points and 10 assists on 7-17 shooting. That's +11.7 above his season average on scoring alone, and his assist total was absolutely ridiculous compared to what he normally does (averaging 2.5 dimes per game).
Here's the thing though. Wallace didn't just fill in for Shai because he had to. He looked competent. The distribution was clean, he hit four threes, and he didn't turn the ball over. In a fantasy sense, that 47.8 Yahoo points is a ceiling game for him, but it's important because it tells us he can handle elevated minutes without completely folding.
If you've got Wallace on your bench in deeper leagues, hold tight. He's not going to average double-digit assists, but he showed last night that when given the opportunity, he won't embarrass you. That's valuable.
Chet Holmgren Does His Thing, Even Quietly
Chet Holmgren put up 17/15/4 with three blocks, which feels like his brand at this point. He was basically league average compared to his season norms (only -0.4 on scoring), but the rebounding bump was real. That's six extra boards on the night, and at an All-Defensive level of play, he's exactly what you need from your third fantasy guy in the Thunder universe.
The thing about Holmgren is he's never going to have a flashy night. But he won't tank your percentages, he'll block shots, he'll rebound, and on a Thunder team that's this talented, he's got defined role security. That's more valuable than a lot of people think.
Isaiah Joe Went Nuclear. So Now What?
Isaiah Joe dropped 22 on 6-13 shooting, including 6 three-pointers. That's +11.2 above his season average, and on Yahoo scoring, that 40.9 points is legitimately elite production.
But I need to be straight with you. Joe is a 10.8 PPG guy ordinarily. He had a massive night. That doesn't mean he's suddenly your league-winner. What it does mean is that when given decent minutes (30 in this one), he can absolutely go nuclear because he can shoot the lights out. He's a dart throw in deeper formats, but don't go trading for Joe expecting nights like this every time. This was a performance bump, not necessarily a shift in role.
The Cavaliers Underperformed Without Going Away
On the other side, James Harden put up 20/5/9 but was -4.6 on scoring compared to his season average of 24.6 PPG. Donovan Mitchell scored 20 too, but he was -8.6 down from his usual 28.6. They both played solid minutes (33-35 minutes each) and kept the game close, but neither guy put up their typical workload.
Here's what matters for your fantasy purposes: Cleveland lost, and they lost because Oklahoma City's depth overwhelmed them. This wasn't a situation where Harden or Mitchell flopped individually. They just didn't get enough support from the rest of the roster. Jarrett Allen had a solid night on the glass (13 rebounds), but it wasn't quite enough.
The Cavaliers are fine. Mitchell and Harden are still your guys. One bad night without full roster health doesn't change that assessment.
The Bottom Line
Thunder are scary good even when their MVP sits. If you own any Thunder players who saw meaningful minutes last night, you should feel decent about them. Wallace showed he won't completely crater in larger roles, Joe proved he can score, and Holmgren was his usual reliable self.
For the Cavaliers, it's a minor setback. They'll bounce back.
And me? I'm just going to sit here refreshing Shai's status for next game because staying up until 3am to watch Thunder games is still somehow worth it, apparently.