The Cavs surprised everybody by playing their Big 3 and lost anyway.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- No forfeit, just a loss as scheduled.
The Cavs essentially reversed course by choosing to play LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love Thursday against the Thunder after strongly hinting it was unlikely. The paying crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena and the national TV audience on TNT got what it was looking for -- with everybody's stars on the court on this February night.
Cleveland lost anyway, 118-109. It was the Cavs' third game in four nights, fourth in six nights and the last of a four-game trip. The Thunder hadn't played since Monday.
They call 'em scheduled losses for a reason.
Russell Westbrook posted his 26th triple double this season and second against the Cavs with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. He was brilliant in the fourth quarter, scoring or assisting on five consecutive possessions while the Thunder took command of the game. His assist to Victor Oladipo for a 3-ball with 1:07 left put Oklahoma City up 10 and ended it.
Irving led the Cavs with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting. James posted 18 points, seven assists and five boards in 41 minutes. Love added 15 points and 12 boards.
"I thought it was good to go through something tough," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. "It was a tough game for us, four games in six nights and it was just good to fight through, not give in. Guys came out, they played, I like how we competed. They played better and they won tonight."
Derrick Williams, signed to a 10-day contract earlier Wednesday, made his Cavs debut and scored 12 points in 22 minutes.
Lue said before the game that he'd let Williams "run around and try to get acclimated to what we're doing and just see how it works out."
It worked out well. The 6-8 forward and No. 2 pick of the 2011 draft (Irving was No. 1, Tristan Thompson No. 4) played deep into the fourth quarter, taking turns guarding the Thunder's point guards, making all three of his shots and 6-of-8 foul shots.
Cleveland finished the road trip with a 3-1 mark. But, as previously mentioned, this one was going to be a struggle.
The Thunder (31-23) are still without Enes Kanter, and yet the Cavs were dominated on the glass 51-35. Cleveland also coughed up 16 turnovers compared with 14 assists. James (8-of-19 shooting) missed two dunks and at least one layup. Irving threw a terrible pass at Williams' feet in transition.
Those things happen when the tank is running low.
Seconds before the game was to begin, the Cavs learned starting shooting guard DeAndre Liggins wouldn't be able to play because of an issue with his tooth. The Cavs later announced that Liggins suffered nerve and tissue damage from a loose tooth that fell out before the game.
Jordan McRae started in Liggins' place and scored six points. Liggins was supposed to start for Iman Shumpert (sprained left ankle), who missed his second consecutive game. Shumpert was starting for J.R. Smith. That's three shooting guards out.
The Cavs said Liggins was out, but he somehow re-emerged with about a minute left to help run out the clock. Afterwards they announced that Liggins received treatment from the Thunder's dentist.
Oladipo scored 23 points for the Thunder. Steven Adams was a monster in the middle with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Cameron Payne stung the Cavs off the bench with 15 points.
Kyle Korver, coming off his season-high 29 points in Cleveland's win over Indiana Wednesday, scored eight points. He took just three shots and made them all -- with each coming after halftime.
The Cavs beat the Thunder 107-91 back on Jan. 29 at The Q. And that's where the Cavs are headed, the road trip complete.
NEXT: With three games left before the All-Star break, the Cavs return home to play the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.