OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Thunder adding Jared McCann to a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers is a gift that keeps on giving for the defending champions, as the second-year guard helped lead the way to a 116-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. McCain connected on his fourth and fifth 3-pointers in a two-minute span, cutting the Thunder's lead to 15 in the fourth quarter.
McCain finished with 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including five threes and a steal. For a three-player Deep Thunder team that finished with 15+ points in Sunday's win, Isaiah Joe's 20 points (five threes) led the second unit, and Alex Caruso added 17 points, the trio combined for 52 points, including 11 threes. That was enough support to keep the Timberwolves away.
Then, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished his 128th consecutive 20+ point game, scoring a 3-point game in the final minutes that brought him to 20 points. He also finished with 10 assists, two steals and a block. The Thunder have won eight consecutive games, including hard-fought victories against the Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets during their four-game home stand.
What Mark Daigneault has learned about the Thunder's Jared McCain
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault continues to learn about Jared McCann during the second-year guard's first month with his new team. For Daigneault, it's McCann's offense that stands out the most, as he fits in seamlessly with his new Thunder teammates.
"His shooting ability. He's a guy you have to make runs off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn't know his game well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range games show his strength," Daigneault said. "He's going downhill, and he's able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder than it looks. He makes it look easier than it is. So, he's done a great job."
McCann has made at least one 3-pointer in 14 of his first 15 appearances for the Thunder. He is averaging 11.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 41.2/39.5/89.4 percent shooting splits.
