Wallace's offensive explosion and McCain's debut were bright spots in a tough loss.
Despite missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, the Thunder battled for 48 minutes and dropped a close game to the Rockets. It was an unusual contest from Oklahoma City’s perspective because it shot 64.3% from the charity stripe and convincingly lost the points off of turnovers battle. The reigning champs typically thrive in those areas.
Tari Eason deserves a tip of the cap. He racked up 26 points and was everywhere on the court. His shooting from the corners gave Houston’s sluggish offense a huge lift. Jabari Smith Jr. also grabbed key rebounds and sank nine free throws, while Kevin Durant made the right passes whenever Oklahoma City sent a double team his way.
However, Cason Wallace’s play was the highlight of the game. He scored 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field while contributing four rebounds, four assists and four steals. The most encouraging aspect of Wallace’s stellar performance was his scoring inside the arc. He usually struggles to create separation off the bounce and finish through contact, but Wallace relentlessly attacked the basket against Houston. Most of his damage came via timely cuts, yet he had a few on-ball possessions that showed his potential.
In the following clip from NBA.com, Wallace isolates Dorian Finney-Smith and manages to get around the edge due to a quick first step. He avoids Finney-Smith’s contest and converts the attempt.
Next, Wallace isolates Alperen Sengun and creates enough space for a pull-up jumper thanks to a pair of crossovers.
Overall, Wallace flashed growth as an on-ball scorer in this matchup, which is highly encouraging. Oklahoma City nearly lost to Denver and Indiana last postseason mainly because its role players could not punish mismatches or create advantages off the dribble. They were essentially attempting catch-and-shoot triples or passing to the top of the key to reset the possession. If this relatively unexplored dimension in Wallace’s game is here to stay, then the Thunder’s outlook becomes even brighter.
Finally, Jared McCain made his debut for the Thunder after Sam Presti acquired him at the trade deadline in exchange for draft picks. The sophomore was a bit passive and hesitant, but he justifiably did not want to rock the boat and make mistakes in his first game. Look for McCain’s value as a scorer and shooter to be crystal clear once he becomes more comfortable in Oklahoma City’s offense.
He nailed a pull-up jumper via an Isaiah Hartenstein screen in the second quarter that should be a staple for him. McCain’s scoring off the bench is definitely a welcome addition to the Thunder’s bench.