After Oklahoma City stormed back to beat San Antonio 123-108 in Game 3, Jared McCain delivered 24 points from the bench and told former 76ers executive Daryl Morey he keeps his focus on positivity—while also making it clear he won’t forget who believed in him
Friday night in San Antonio started like it belonged to the Spurs.
OKC fell behind 15-0 early, then dug a hole deeper before finally clawing its way out. By the time the Thunder closed the game, the momentum had fully flipped: Oklahoma City beat San Antonio 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, taking a 2-1 series lead.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the charge with 26 points and 12 assists, but the swing wasn’t just what the star did. It was what the bench gave OKC when the game looked like it might slip away.
The reserves erupted for 76 points— the most by a conference finals or NBA Finals bench since 1971. Jared McCain led that surge with 24 points, turning a breakout performance into the kind of statement that changes how the series feels when teams walk back to the bench.
After the win, McCain’s comments landed with extra weight because they were directed at the man tied to the most debated change of his young career: Daryl Morey, the former 76ers executive who traded him from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City.
“It’s never to prove anybody wrong,” McCain said. “I try to keep a positive outlook. I like proving my support system right … Daryl’s still the guy that drafted me, so I’ll always have love for him for that. He believed in me enough to take me at No. 16. So, I’m forever grateful for that, no matter what.”.
For McCain, that message wasn’t just about gratitude. It came with a quiet reminder that he knows exactly how quickly people can move on from a player—especially in a league where roster decisions are made in headlines.
His move from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City happened at the trade deadline and quickly became one of the most debated deals of the ongoing NBA season. The 22-year-old guard had been viewed as a key young piece in Philly’s backcourt. but he was shipped to OKC for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks.
The timing made it even harder to ignore. McCain had already shown high-level scoring potential. averaging 15.3 points on 46.3% shooting in his rookie season before a meniscus tear cut that promising run short. Yet the trade still arrived for a player many expected to keep growing in Philadelphia—at least until the team’s direction shifted.
Morey, known for bold roster swings, eventually lost his job in Philly. McCain, meanwhile, has evolved into arguably the most critical bench piece on a Thunder team that is now just six wins away from winning another championship.
The sequence of Friday night’s turnaround wasn’t subtle: Oklahoma City’s early collapse forced a response. and the second unit provided it in a way that left little doubt about the depth it now carries into every game. When OKC’s bench is scoring like that. the pressure doesn’t fall evenly—it concentrates on the opponent’s ability to match the run.
San Antonio had its answer in its own star. Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points, but he didn’t receive enough support around him as OKC’s second unit completely took over.
Game 4 is back in San Antonio on Sunday. and the Spurs will face a simple reality they can’t outthink: they have to counter the depth. not just the headline name. If McCain keeps providing the spark again. momentum could stay firmly in the Thunder’s favor as OKC pushes for a second straight NBA title.
Jared McCain Daryl Morey Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs Western Conference Finals Game 3 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Victor Wembanyama NBA playoffs