Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked the perfect moment for his best night of the season.

The Oklahoma City star scored a season-high 43 points Monday night. He also drilled the go-ahead 3-pointer with 32.6 seconds left as the Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-112.

It was Cleveland's first home loss of the season after three straight wins in its own building.

A huge workload

Gilgeous-Alexander took 35 shots and made 14 of them. No player had attempted more shots in a game during the first two weeks of the season.

He also went 11 of 12 at the free-throw line in 38 minutes. His 43 points matched his best total in 17 career games against the Cavaliers.

Coach Mark Daigneault said his star "had the look in his eye tonight, so we obviously rode him offensively."

"It's not our identity for 82 games," Daigneault said. He added that some nights "you got a player like that that you got to just cut him loose."

A wild fourth quarter

The final period had eight ties and eight lead changes before Gilgeous-Alexander hit his fourth 3-pointer of the night.

Sam Merrill then missed from the corner for Cleveland. Ajay Mitchell sank two free throws with 15.4 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.

Short-handed and bouncing back

The Thunder came in reeling. They had lost two straight road games by more than 20 points while playing without three starters who are out with long-term injuries.

Mitchell finished with 20 points. Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 14 rebounds.

Cleveland's side

Rookie Meleek Thomas made his first NBA start and scored 17 points. Donovan Mitchell also scored 17 and handed out 11 assists. Evan Mobley added 16 points.

Oklahoma City used a 16-6 run late in the second quarter to lead 59-48 at halftime. Cleveland fought back by hitting 9 of 17 3-pointers in the third quarter and opened the fourth on an 18-9 run.

Round two Wednesday

The same two teams meet again Wednesday in Oklahoma City.