After a season-high 26-point performance, it was easy to focus on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain’s offensive side.
However, heading into Saturday’s road game against the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault has focused more on the defensive side of McCain’s game since he was acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I don’t know how much he’s improved but he’s definitely integrated well. He’s learning his teammates, he’s learning our system, the fundamentals that we emphasize,” Daigneault said. “… He’s done a really good job of committing to our fundamentals and the things we need to do on the defensive end.
“Obviously he’s a very strong offensive player, but he gives up certain measures and has to be really fundamental and passionate (defensively) and he’s been doing that, especially lately.”
The Thunder are 15-3 since acquiring McCain after posting an 11-7 record in their 18 games prior to the trade.
McCain has been especially important for Oklahoma City in the absence of Jalen Williams, who along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the Thunder’s primary ball handlers.
Williams has not played since February 11 as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Oklahoma City (55-15) enters Saturday’s game on a 10-game winning streak and looking to hold off San Antonio for the top seed in the Western Conference.
The Thunder came into the contest with the Wizards three games ahead of the Spurs.
Saturday’s game was the last of two games between the Wizards and Thunder this season.
Oklahoma City won the first meeting by 19 points on October 30, which was the Wizards’ third in a 14-game losing streak.
Washington once again went on a 14-game losing streak, with their last win coming on February 20. The Wizards lost by an average of nearly 15 points per game during that streak.
The Thunder lead the NBA in net rating, outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions, while the Wizards are last at minus-11.1.
Oklahoma City held its opponents to a league-low 43.4% from the field.
In the previous meeting, the Thunder scored 26 points off Washington’s 23 turnovers while Oklahoma City turned the ball over just six times for the Wizards’ five points.
In Thursday’s 117-95 loss to Detroit, the Pistons scored 23 points off Washington’s 19 turnovers for a plus-10 edge against turnovers.
Much like Daigneault when it comes to McCain, Wizards coach Brian Keefe is pleased with the recent defensive growth of third-year reserve center Tristan Vukcevic, who is having two of the best offensive games of his career over the last four games.
“He’s one of the best bigs in the league in terms of disruption – disrupting the ball, getting on top of things,” Keefe said.
The Wizards are still shorthanded, with Anthony Davis still yet to make his DC debut after not playing since early January. Additionally, Trae Young has missed the last two games with a quadriceps injury and has played in just five games since being acquired from Atlanta in February.
In an update on Friday, the Wizards announced that Davis continues to make progress, but he will remain sidelined at least until he is evaluated later this month. On Saturday, the team said Young had a contusion to his right quadriceps and lower back irritation and “these injuries are being treated conservatively.”
The Wizards said Young would not require surgery but did not give a timeline for his return to the court.
–Field Level Media
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