Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged that the injuries in his side are a challenge, but he is determined to continue to "thrive" amidst them.

The short-handed Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to an abdominal strain, as well as Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But led by Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City emerged as 121-113 winners over the Cavaliers on Sunday.

Joe had a season-high tying 22 points and a career-best five steals, while Wallace finished with 20 points and 10 assists for his first career double-double.

The Cavaliers had been on a seven-game winning streak before it was snapped by the Thunder, who did not trail after regaining the lead early in the third quarter.

And Daigneault acknowledged the importance of not using excuses but finding ways to overcome the tests in front of the team.

"The injuries are a challenge, but there's a vast number of challenges that you face in the 82-game season," Daigneault said.

An OKC Sunday done right pic.twitter.com/SlKlBOu5Bt

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 22, 2026

"It's just not an easy season for anybody. Every team goes through different challenges and adversities, and it's less about avoiding those and more about figuring out how to leverage the circumstances to your benefit and still make investments and still improve and find ways to thrive despite difficult circumstances.

"If you're inconvenienced by difficult circumstances, then you're going to be very disappointed every year with an 82-game season."

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Sam Merrill each scored 20 points for Cleveland, who lost for the first time in six games since acquiring Harden.

"This happens across the league," Mitchell said, about teams winning with star players out.

"I think it's happening more so nowadays than a few years ago."