Overview
- McCain scored 24 points off the bench as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on May 23.
- The performance made McCain the Thunder’s second-leading scorer in the game and continued a stretch in which he has been a steady postseason bench contributor for Oklahoma City.
- Philadelphians and national commentators used the game to revisit the midseason trade that sent McCain to the Thunder for draft picks, with many noting Daryl Morey’s earlier comment that the team was "selling high."
- Coverage and player quotes say McCain has provided shooting, energy and a positive locker-room fit for the Thunder while some analysts link his absence to Philadelphia’s backcourt depth problems that surfaced during the Sixers’ second-round sweep.
- The long-term verdict on the trade will depend on how the 76ers use the draft compensation they received and on whether McCain’s playoff surge continues to materially affect the Thunder’s postseason run.