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The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Friday night shorthanded, still without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell for an extended stretch, SportingNews reports. They also welcomed back reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who returned from a nine-game absence due to an abdominal strain. His timing could not have been better.
Oklahoma City outlasted Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in overtime, securing a six-point win that required contributions across the roster. After the game, Jared McCain summed up what it felt like to share the floor with the league’s MVP for the first time.
“There’s a reason why he’s the MVP. It was pretty awesome just to experience the gravity, the attention he requires, and it’s just really awesome to play with him,” McCain said.
That quote captured the night. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 36 points, nine assists and two steals. But Oklahoma City needed more than star power to survive Denver.
McCain Delivers in Key Bench Role
McCain provided it.
The recently acquired guard finished with 14 points in 19 minutes off the bench, shooting 6-for-8 from the field. He added two rebounds, one assist and one steal, finishing as the team’s third-leading scorer in a game that demanded efficiency.
Gilgeous-Alexander praised him postgame.
“He was great tonight. There was a spurt in the game where he kept us afloat, scoring wise. Great shooting touch. He’s going to continue get better the more he’s in our system. Kid’s really talented at basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Chet Holmgren echoed that support.
“He’s been great since he’s been here. He was big for us tonight. We’re happy to have him.”
Since arriving in Oklahoma City, McCain has averaged 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 steals over nine games. That production marks a noticeable jump from his role earlier this season in Philadelphia, where he averaged 6.6 points and two rebounds across 37 appearances.
Friday’s game showed why the Thunder made the move.
Shai’s Return Changes the Game
Oklahoma City faced an early deficit, trailing 33-19 before Gilgeous-Alexander shifted the momentum. He attacked downhill, finished at the rim and disrupted passing lanes defensively. In the first six minutes of the second quarter alone, he posted eight points, two blocks, one steal and one rebound. The Thunder outscored Denver 19-7 during that stretch, cutting the margin to two.
He reached 32 points through three quarters, standing as the only Thunder player in double figures at that point, Oklahoman reports. When he opened the fourth quarter on the bench for a brief rest, the supporting cast needed to respond.
They did.
Holmgren finished with 15 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks, controlling the paint throughout. McCain helped stabilize scoring during key stretches. Oklahoma City closed strong and sealed the win in overtime.
Head coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the collective effort.
“I’m unbelievably happy with the effort by the guys,” Daigneault said. “That was a well-earned win, and it was a well-played game. We’ve got a lot to be happy about with it.”
For McCain, the night offered more than a stat line. It delivered a firsthand look at what makes an MVP command the floor. The attention, the spacing, the defensive focus. He felt it all.
And in a game that demanded depth and composure, he proved he belongs in the Thunder’s system alongside one of the league’s most dynamic stars.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. Instagram: @showmi_more More about Burtland Dixon
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