Overview
- Jared McCain, who made his first career playoff start on Wednesday, May 27, scored 20 points with 18 coming after halftime as the Thunder beat the Spurs 127-114 to take a 3-2 Western Conference Finals lead.
- Coach Mark Daigneault said he inserted McCain because injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell left the team short-handed and McCain could bring immediate scoring and ball-handling punch for that unit.
- McCain produced separate scoring 'flurries' in the third and fourth quarters that shifted momentum back to Oklahoma City after a poor showing in Game 4.
- The midseason trade that brought McCain from Philadelphia in February will face renewed evaluation as his postseason impact affects how analysts judge the draft picks and assets exchanged.
- With Game 6 set in San Antonio next, the Thunder sit one win from a return to the Finals and McCain’s performance will factor into whether he reaches his first NBA Finals and how the trade is ultimately judged.