Jared McCain and the Oklahoma City Thunder bring an 11-game winning streak into Philadelphia on Monday when they continue their five-game road trip with a matchup against the 76ers.
Philadelphia’s first-round draft pick in 2024, McCain battled injuries and inconsistency during his 1.5 seasons with the Sixers. The team ultimately traded the Duke product to the Thunder at last month’s trade deadline – and the second-year guard has sparkled thus far in Oklahoma City.
After averaging 6.6 points on 38.5% shooting in 37 games with Philadelphia this season, McCain has posted 12.3 points on 46.9% shooting – including 44% from 3-point range – in 19 games with the Thunder.
“He’s definitely integrated well,” OKC coach Mark Daigneault said. “He’s learning his teammates. He’s learning our system and the fundamentals that we emphasize. … He continues to be a fan favorite in the locker room just with the way that he’s approached things since he’s been traded here.”
McCain scored 18 points Saturday as the Thunder posted a 132-111 win over the Washington Wizards to improve to 56-15. They have lost only once since Valentine’s Day – a road loss against the East-leading Detroit Pistons – and are clicking on all cylinders with 11 regular-season games remaining.
Oklahoma City also will receive a boost Monday as star forward Jalen Williams will return from a right hamstring injury after a 16-game absence. Williams first hurt the hamstring on Jan. 17 against the Miami Heat and missed 10 straight games. In his second game back, he injured the hamstring versus the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 17.
Williams has played in just 26 games this season after undergoing two wrist surgeries.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points against Washington and has scored at least 20 in an NBA-record 63 straight road games. The game turned physical, however, as four players (including three from Oklahoma City) were ejected after a second-quarter scuffle – one of several scrums featuring Thunder players this season.
Ajay Mitchell was suspended for Monday’s game due to his part in the altercation.
“We’re (not going to) back down against anything. I don’t really put anyone at fault for that – it just happens,” said Thunder forward Isaiah Hartenstein. “We have a passionate group of guys, and every time we play, teams are coming with their best shot, and sometimes, it just gets physical.”
Hartenstein contributed nine points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists for Oklahoma City after going scoreless in the previous three games.
“He was great,” Daigneault said. “He was a warrior.”
Philadelphia (39-32) has won four of its last five games, including two of three on its recent road trip that included stops in Denver, Sacramento and Utah. After falling to the Nuggets by 28, the Sixers rebounded to post double-digit victories over the Kings and Jazz.
The team continues to post victories despite playing without Joel Embiid (oblique), Tyrese Maxey (finger) and Paul George (suspension), among others. Embiid will miss his 13th straight game.
Quentin Grimes led the way with 25 points against Utah for the shorthanded Sixers.
“They’re not quite done with their job yet,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said of his young players filling in for the absent vets. “We’ll see when we can get some of these guys back.”
One of the young players who continues to step up is VJ Edgecombe, who notched 22 points and 13 rebounds against Utah. In the previous game, the rookie guard had a career-high 38 points in a win over the Kings.
“I thought he was just really doing a good job of leading the team – at both ends,” Nurse said. “He was trying to get us to do better and do the right things and kept leading the team. … Very good night for him.”
Nurse was also pleased with the play of reserve forward Trendon Watford, who notched 20 points and nine boards off the bench while shooting 7 of 11 from the floor against the Jazz.
“Probably his best game of the year,” Nurse said.
The Thunder beat the Sixers 129-104 on Dec. 28 in Oklahoma City as Chet Holmgren led the way with 29 points and nine rebounds.
