Birthday boy Jared McCain ignites the Thunder with a career-best 24 points, leading Oklahoma City past the Nets in a dominant offensive outburst.
The Oklahoma City Thunder earned a much-needed win in their first game coming out of the break, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 105-86 at home.
It was a true breakout performance for Jared McCain, who was acquired at the trade deadline. Not only was it his best game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was his best overall performance of the 2025-26 season, including his time earlier in the year with the Philadelphia 76ers.
On his 22nd birthday, McCain celebrated in style, pouring in a team-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He knocked down 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and was unquestionably the Thunder’s best player on the floor. The offense flowed through him for much of the night, and he delivered time and again when Oklahoma City needed a spark.
Outside of McCain, no one else scored more than 15 points. Chet Holmgren finished with 15, while Isaiah Joe and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 apiece. Lu Dort chipped in 10, and no other Thunder player reached double figures.
It wasn’t a dominant offensive showing, as Oklahoma City scored just 105 points, but it was more than enough against a Nets team that struggled to generate consistent offense of its own. Given that this was the most manageable matchup on an increasingly difficult upcoming schedule, the win was important.
Now the focus shifts to Sunday afternoon, when the Thunder host the Cleveland Cavaliers in a marquee home matchup featuring the newly formed James Harden–Donovan Mitchell backcourt duo.