Mark Daigneault praised Jared McCain’s playoff confidence after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 3 win over the San Antonio Spurs, where McCain delivered 24 points off the bench in 27 minutes.
The Western Conference Finals felt like it was slipping away early in Game 3, and then it didn’t. San Antonio came out flying and led 15-0 at one point, only for the Oklahoma City Thunder to answer with a decisive second-quarter surge that carried them past the Spurs 32-20 in the period.
In the middle of that turnaround. Jared McCain made the kind of impact that doesn’t just show up on the scoreboard—it shows up in a coach’s confidence. After another standout night off the bench on Friday night. Mark Daigneault had a simple. direct takeaway: “He’s got playoff confidence. ” Daigneault said.
McCain is in his second year in the NBA. and it’s his first with the Thunder after a midseason trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. He began the season in Philly. but the 76ers traded him to Oklahoma in exchange for draft compensation—an abrupt change for a young guard who had shown promise and potential. For McCain. though. the move became a chance to fit into a rotation that had already won a championship the year prior.
That opportunity has been especially evident in the playoffs. In Game 3, McCain played 27 minutes off the bench and finished with 24 points, four rebounds and one assist. He went 10-of-21 from the field, including 2-of-10 from beyond the arc.
The Thunder’s offensive balance also did its job. Six Oklahoma City players scored in double figures in the win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the attack with 26 points and 12 assists. Jaylin Williams followed with 18 points and five rebounds, while Caruso added 15 points and three rebounds.
The sequence of the game made the swing feel tangible: a Spurs start that produced a 15-0 lead couldn’t be sustained, and once Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 32-20 in the second period, the hosts spent the rest of Game 3 playing catch-up.
Now the series shifts to the next test. The Spurs are aiming to go up 3-1 when they face the Thunder on the road in Game 4. That game is scheduled for May 24 at 8 p.m. ET.
Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs Mark Daigneault Jared McCain Game 3 Western Conference Finals Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jaylin Williams Caruso playoffs