OKC Thunder bests Josh Giddey, Bulls without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
· Yahoo Sports
CHICAGO — Most coaches would go away from a player when he's in a shooting slump, but Mark Daigneault started him.
Despite averaging 7.4 points on 33.3% shooting from the field (20% from deep) in his last nine outings, Aaron Wiggins got the starting nod during OKC's road game against Chicago on Tuesday. And the Thunder needed him to step up in the absence of key contributors such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain injury management) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
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Daigneault had confidence in Wiggins' ability to do so.
“We want to make sure the guys know that we’re riding with them through the ups and downs of the season and we’re doing everything we can to put the wind in their back," Daigneault said before the game.
Wiggins ultimately delivered. OKC earned a 116-108 win, and the fifth-year guard racked up 18 points and seven rebounds on 8-for-17 shooting from the field (47.1%).
Every point proved to be crucial for the Thunder, which fended off a late comeback attempt by the Bulls. It has now improved to 48-15 on the season.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
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Jared McCain is a quick learner
Jared McCain has already learned a thing or two from his star teammates, Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams.
One example is what Williams describes as the "bump middy," where a player creates separation on a drive with his forearm before attempting a mid-range jumper. And McCain showed that off late in the second quarter.
The 22-year-old guard bulldozed his way into the lane and cleared out Rob Dillingham with a bump. Then he elevated for a 13-footer that bounced on the rim before dropping.
This time, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who mimicked his new teammate. The reigning MVP smiled as he raised his own forearm in approval while sitting on the bench.
McCain erupted for 20 points and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench Tuesday. He's averaging 12.5 points on 48.5% shooting from the field (43.1% from deep) through his first 11 games with OKC.
Arkansas natives Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams shined
The Fort Smith, Arkansas, connection was razor-sharp on Tuesday.
Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams, two teammates going all the way back to their high school days, displayed their on-court chemistry midway through the second quarter. Joe scored nine straight points in a span of just 70 seconds, and Williams assisted on three of those four buckets.
The highlight of that stretch came at the 5:40 mark, when Williams snagged a defensive board and immediately found Joe on the ensuing fastbreak. He then sailed a half-court pass to his fellow Razorback, who caught the ball in mid-air and sank a reverse layup.
Jaylin Williams provided a playmaking presence at the five in the absence of Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus injury management). He racked up 17 points, 16 rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes off the bench.
Meanwhile, Joe delivered a much-needed scoring punch on a night when OKC was without some key scorers. He recorded 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field (2 for 10 from deep) in 30 minutes.
Cason Wallace is driving and finishing with confidence
Cason Wallace didn't need a large window of opportunity on a drive early in the third quarter.
He only needed the bottom-left portion of the glass, which he used to bank in a contest layup over Matas Buzelis. And even the United Center crowd oohed and awed at the blanketed bucket.
Wallace has had plenty of those as of late, as he continues to drive and finish with confidence.
The third-year guard was only averaging 3.9 drives per game this season, and he was shooting 32.4% on the 1.5 field goal attempts that came from them. But he adapted to an expanded role once Gilgeous-Alexander sustained an abdominal strain Feb. 3.
Wallace is averaging 13 drives per game since then, and he's shooting 42.9% on the 5.1 field goal attempts that have come from them. It's a clear sign of not just opportunity but improvement from the 22-year-old guard.
Wallace finished Tuesday with 17 points, five assists and two steals in 29 minutes. He went 6 for 13 from the field (1 for 3 from deep).
Tip-ins
∎ OKC head coach Mark Daigneault on Payton Sandfort, who signed a two-way contract with the team Monday: “He’s a great professional, and he’s a really good guy. He hasn’t played a lot this year. He’s been injured, but he’s a guy our scouts really liked coming out of college. He can really shoot the ball with some size, and he’s a great kid. Just a really, really good dude. He’ll fit in well.”
∎ OKC was without Branden Carlson (low back strain), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain injury management), Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus injury management), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery), Nikola Topić (G League assignment) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Chicago was without Zach Collins (right first toe surgery), Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery), Jaden Ivey (left patellofemoral pain syndrome), Anfernee Simons (left ulnar styloid fracture), Jalen Smith (right calf strain) and Patrick Williams (right quadricep strain).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder beats Josh Giddey, Bulls without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander