Rookie guard Jared McCain excelled in his first career postseason start, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night.
The win gives the Thunder a 3-2 series lead, putting them one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.
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McCain started because Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Ajay Mitchell (right soleus strain) were out.
He scored 20 points, with 18 in the second half, and added three rebounds while tying for the team lead with 19 shot attempts.
The rookie was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in a February trade for a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick, and two 2028 second-round picks.
Before a left knee injury cut short his early season, McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds for Philadelphia, winning Eastern Conference rookie of the month for November and setting an NBA rookie record by making at least three 3-pointers in eight straight games.
McCain's Game 5 performance followed a strong Game 3 showing where he scored 24 points in a 123-108 win.
Alongside Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Jaylin Williams, McCain helped Oklahoma City overcome an early 15-0 deficit, fueling a franchise playoff-record 76 bench points.
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Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised McCain, saying, "We just thought he could give us some good stuff, just based on where we are right now with a couple guys out.
He was really good." Daigneault also noted McCain's resilience, saying the guard "doesn't flinch."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added that McCain "oozes confidence." Jeff Zillgitt of NBA.
com wrote that the trade is reverberating with league-wide ramifications as McCain impacts Oklahoma City's chase for a second straight championship.
"It's that time of the year," said Caruso. "If you're not fearless, you're probably gonna lose and go home.
You gotta lay it all on the line if you wanna win — if you want to win big, at least."
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The Thunder will next face the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.
