Thunder HC Mark Daigneault commends Jared McCain’s playoff confidence

Mark Daigneault had immense praise for Jared McCain following his excellent performance off the bench in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 3 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals on Friday night.

McCain is going through the second year of his young NBA career, his first with the Thunder. He started the season with the Philadelphia 76ers before they traded him midseason to Oklahoma in exchange for draft compensation.

It was a sudden move for the young guard, knowing he showcased promise and a lot of potential for Philadelphia. Despite this, the trade presented an opportunity for him to shine in a rotation that won a championship the year prior.

So far, he has taken advantage of those chances, especially in the playoffs. In 27 minutes of action off the bench, McCain finished with 24 points, four rebounds and one assist. He shot 10-of-21 from the field, including 2-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Daigneault reflected on McCain’s performance after the game, via reporter Clemente Almanza. When it came to what he saw from the standout guard, the head coach had one short but clear response to express.

“He’s got playoff confidence,” Daigneault said.

Mark Daigneault on Jared McCain: “He’s got playoff confidence.” pic.twitter.com/Nzpb1CN9qU

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) May 23, 2026

How Jared McCain, Thunder played against Spurs

Mark Daigneault and the Thunder will look forward to Jared McCain’s growth this postseason and the long term.

San Antonio got off to a hot start in Game 3, leading 15-0 at one point. However, the Thunder fired back as they overwhelmed the hosts 32-20 in the second period. That was a stretch the Spurs failed to recover from, playing catch up with Oklahoma City from there on.

Six players scored in double-digits for Oklahoma City in the win, including McCain. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the attack with 26 points and 12 assists. Jaylin Williams came next with 18 points and five rebounds, while Caruso provided 15 points and three rebounds.

The Spurs hope to go up 3-1 in the series when they face the Thunder on the road in Game 4. The contest takes place on May 24 at 8 p.m. ET.

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