Impressive stat proves Jared McCain is Thunder’s secret weapon vs. Spurs

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Game 5 carrying enormous pressure. They were battered by injuries and stared at the possibility of surrendering control of the Western Conference Finals. Instead, they uncovered their secret postseason weapon hiding in plain sight. With Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both sidelined, the Thunder desperately needed secondary shot creation to ease the burden on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. What they received from Jared McCain was far more significant. Making an unlikely playoff start, McCain erupted for 20 points in Oklahoma City’s pivotal 127-114 Game 5 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He further cemented a stunning trend that has quietly a defining barometer of this series.

Oklahoma City is now a perfect 3-0 against San Antonio in the postseason whenever McCain scores in double-figures during the Western Conference Finals. In every Thunder victory, the young guard has cracked the 10-point mark. In every Spurs win, he has failed to reach it. The pattern began in Game 2 when McCain delivered 12 points off the bench after Williams’ injury. It escalated in Game 3 with a playoff career-high 24 points before continuing Tuesday night with another explosive 20-point outing. His aggressive perimeter gravity has completely altered San Antonio’s defensive geometry. It has forced Victor Wembanyama farther away from the paint and creating massive driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander to exploit. More impressively, McCain scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half of Game 5.

The 2025-26 NBA regular season was ultimately a story of resilience and reinvention for McCain. So much, of course, changed after his February trade to Oklahoma City. In 30 games with the Thunder, McCain flourished as a dynamic scoring guard. That late-season growth is now translating directly onto the postseason stage.

The post Impressive stat proves Jared McCain is Thunder’s secret weapon vs. Spurs appeared first on ClutchPoints.