Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a poor shooting night and played without several of his top teammates Monday.

It did not matter. The two-time MVP scored a season-high 43 points including a late go-ahead 3 that iced a 117-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The win snapped a two-game losing streak as the Thunder continue to adjust to playing without several of their best players.

Starters Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace are all sidelined with long-term injuries. The Thunder also played Monday without Alex Caruso, who's nursing a sprained right ankle.

Gilgeous-Alexander dagger seals OKC win

But they had Gilgeous-Alexander and that was a enough alongside a makeshift starting lineup for victory over the Eastern Conference hopeful Cavaliers. Gilgeous-Alexander shot just 40% from the field. But he hit the shots when they mattered most, most notably a late 3 that gave the Thunder the lead for good.

With the game tied at 112-112 in the final minute, Gilgeous-Alexander gained just enough separation form his defender, Sam Merrill, to pull up for a 3 from the left wing. The shot sank through the net for a 3-point Thunder lead with 32.6 seconds remaining.

The Cavaliers didn't score again, and the Thunder secured the win to improve to 5-2.

SGA: ‘Play the cards you’re dealt’

After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke with NBC about the Thunder adjusting in the face of injury adversity after entering the season on the short list of favorites to compete for an NBA title.

"Just figuring it out," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "You never know what the future has in store for you. All you can do is play the cards you’re dealt."

Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 43 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. He shot 14 of 35 from the field, 11 of 12 from the line and 4 of 8 from 3.

The 35 shots tied a career high and could be indicative of things to come with Williams and Holmgren sidelined. The All-Star tandem have been OKC’s second- and third-leading scorers behind Gilgeous-Alexander for the last three seasons.

Instead, it was Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams who joined Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein in the starting lineup Monday night. Mitchell finished second on the Thunder in scoring with 20 points and five rebounds, while Kenrich Williams add 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

It’s OKC’s trademark smothering defense that could suffer the most through injuries. Williams, Wallace, Holmgren and Caruso have all earned All-Defensive team selections in their careers and can’t be replaced. The result Monday night was just seven turnovers committed by the Cavaliers.

But none of Cleveland’s offensive starts broke out. Donovan Mitchell tied for the team lead with 17 points alongside 11 assists and five rebounds. Instead it was a balanced team effort with seven players in double figures that kept the game close. A 58% (14 of 24) effort from the free-throw line ultimately doomed the Cavaliers.

The two teams will play each other again Wednesday night as they complete their season series in Oklahoma City and the Thunder continue to learn to play with a new-look lineup.