{"id":615200,"date":"2026-02-21T05:29:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T05:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/615200\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T05:29:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T05:29:59","slug":"jared-mccain-okc-thunder-grind-out-win-vs-nets-in-first-game-after-nba-all-star-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/615200\/","title":{"rendered":"Jared McCain, OKC Thunder grind out win vs Nets in first game after NBA All-Star break"},"content":{"rendered":"

The injury report<\/a> wasn’t clean for either team, and neither was the defense being played at times.<\/p>\n

It was a muddy game between OKC<\/a> and Brooklyn<\/a> on Friday. One that was filled with physical fouls and frequent stoppages. And it was a true test to see which side was most willing to do the dirty work.<\/p>\n

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That ultimately proved to be the Thunder, which earned a 105-86 home win<\/a>. Jared McCain<\/a> led the Thunder (43-14) with 21 points and four rebounds, while Chet Holmgren<\/a> added 15 points and seven rebounds.<\/p>\n

Here are three takeaways from the win:<\/p>\n

Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title<\/a><\/p>\n

More: 10 OKC Thunder predictions: SGA can pull off rare double trophy repeat<\/a><\/p>\n

Isaiah Joe delivered one hustle play after another<\/p>\n

Isaiah Joe<\/a> didn’t have any reinforcements.<\/p>\n

It looked like a losing battle for the Thunder guard, who found himself on the wrong end of a two-on-one Nets<\/a> fastbreak early in the second quarter. And yet he had no intentions of retreating.<\/p>\n

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Joe anticipated the lob by Drake Powell<\/a> and showed off his vertical, deflecting the pass at its highest point. He then tumbled to the floor in a scramble for the ball, which bounced out of bounds.<\/p>\n

And when reinforcements finally came to help him up, Joe sat there for a few seconds. He was more concerned with pleading to the official, which ultimately awarded OKC possession.<\/p>\n

That was one of the many hustle plays of the night by Joe. He battled for offensive boards. He invaded passing lanes for steals. He stormed the rim on fastbreaks. He was everywhere on a night when he finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.<\/p>\n

More: Chris Paul retired, but his impact on OKC Thunder’s SGA and Lu Dort is still seen<\/a><\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) goes to the basket as Brooklyn guard Egor Demin (8) and Brooklyn forward Noah Clowney (21) defend during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) goes to the basket as Brooklyn guard Egor Demin (8) and Brooklyn forward Noah Clowney (21) defend during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Aaron Wiggins (21) tries to get by Brooklyn forward Noah Clowney (21) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) tries to get by Brooklyn guard Nolan Traore (88) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace (22) drives to the basket as Brooklyn guard Nolan Traore (88) defends during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace (22) drives to the basket as Brooklyn guard Nolan Traore (88) defends during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks the ball during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Kenrich Williams (34) tries to get around Brooklyn guard Drake Powell (4) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Nikola Topic (44) drives to the basket as Brooklyn forward Jalen Wilson (22) defends during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) defends against Brooklyn guard Nolan Traore (88) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Aaron Wiggins (21) and Brooklyn guard Egor Demin (8) fight for a loose ball during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) blocks the shot of Brooklyn center Day’ron Sharpe (20) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace (22) defends against Brooklyn guard Nolan Traore (88) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Brooklyn guard Ochai Agbaji goes to the basket as Oklahoma City guard Kenrich Williams (34) and Isaiah Hartenstein (55) defend during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso (9) fouls Brooklyn forward Noah Clowney (21) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

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OKC Thunder vs Brooklyn at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso (9) argues after a play during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday Feb. 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

Nikola Topi\u0107 made the most of his minutes in second career NBA game<\/p>\n

Every NBA minute is valuable to Nikola Topi\u0107<\/a>, who had to overcome a lot to reach the floor.<\/p>\n

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The former 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft missed all of last season due to a partially torn ACL in his left knee <\/a>that required surgery. And after participating in Summer League play<\/a> and OKC’s preseason opener last year, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But Topi\u0107 has since completed chemotherapy and made his NBA debut. And when he checked into the game to start the fourth quarter, he made the most of his opportunity.<\/p>\n

Topi\u0107 showed an ability to get downhill, where he finished a layup. He showed some range by drilling a 3-pointer. He showed good decision making with the ball by finding Holmgren for a 13-foot bucket. And he did it all in only the first five minutes of the quarter to help OKC open up an 88-75 lead.<\/p>\n

Topi\u0107 finished with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in only 11 minutes during what marked his second career game. It was a promising performance by a 20-year-old guard who doesn’t just want to touch an NBA floor. He wants to show he can stay on one.<\/p>\n

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More: Nikola Topic’s NBA debut was 600 days in the making after ACL tear, cancer battle<\/a><\/p>\n

1 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort (5) fouls Milwaukee guard Cam Thomas (24) in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort (5) fouls Milwaukee guard Cam Thomas (24) in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) jumps to shoot over Milwaukee forward Ousmane Dieng (21) in the second quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Milwaukee forward Ousmane Dieng (21) looks up in the second quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) jumps to shoot over Milwaukee forward Ousmane Dieng (21) in the second quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City forward Jaylin Williams (6) jumps to shoot in the second quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Milwaukee forward Ousmane Dieng (21) shoots a 3-pointer over Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso (9) in the second quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Isaiah Joe (11) steps on the foot of Milwaukee guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Milwaukee guard AJ Green (20) passes the ball past Oklahoma City guard Nikola Topi\u0107 (44) in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Isaiah Joe (11) steps on the foot of Milwaukee guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Nikola Topi\u0107 (44) runs up court in the second quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren (7) drives to the hoop past Milwaukee center Jericho Sims (00) in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Nikola Topi\u0107 (44) warms up before an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Nikola Topi\u0107 (44) passes the ball in on his first game in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nikola Topic, OKC Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center, see our top photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City guard Isaiah Joe (11) shoots a 3-pointer in the first quarter during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

Thunder will need everyone to step up offensively<\/p>\n

OKC’s defense kept it afloat Friday. It held Brooklyn to 36.7% shooting from the field and 17.1% shooting from deep, and it forced 20 turnovers.<\/p>\n

But shot creation remained a struggle at times for the Thunder, which was without its usual go-to options.<\/p>\n

OKC announced Thursday that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>\u00a0(abdominal strain) and\u00a0Ajay Mitchell<\/a>\u00a0(abdominal strain and left ankle sprain) will both be re-evaluated in approximately one week.\u00a0Jalen Williams<\/a>\u00a0(right hamstring strain) will also be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.<\/p>\n

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OKC will need everyone to step up during its next stretch of games, which is as difficult as any all season. It’ll host Cleveland<\/a> on Sunday followed by road games against Toronto<\/a> on Tuesday and Detroit<\/a> on Wednesday. It’ll then host Denver<\/a> on Friday, Feb. 27.<\/p>\n

More: OKC Thunder provides injury update on SGA, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell<\/a><\/p>\n

Tip-ins<\/p>\n

\u220e OKC was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell<\/a> (abdominal strain), Thomas Sorber<\/a>\u00a0(right ACL surgical recovery) and Jalen Williams<\/a> (right hamstring strain).<\/p>\n

\u220e Brooklyn was without Nic Claxton (right ankle sprain), Tyson Etienne (G League two-way), Chaney Johnson (G League two-way), E.J. Liddell (G League two-way), Josh Minott (G League assignment), Ben Saraf (G League assignment) and Ziaire Williams (personal reasons).<\/p>\n

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Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X\/Twitter at\u00a0@Justintohoops. Sign up for the\u00a0Thunder Sports Minute newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a\u00a0digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thunder vs. Cavaliers<\/p>\n

TIPOFF:\u00a0Noon Sunday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (ABC)<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder grinds out win vs Brooklyn Nets as Jared McCain scores 21<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The injury report wasn’t clean for either team, and neither was the defense being played at times. It…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":615201,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[5577,7,3519,670,306,18503,366,2596,305,301,296,997,6297,1624,364,1255,7272,6,2728,3110,378,475,209,954,680,26847,4610],"class_list":{"0":"post-615200","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-ajay-mitchell","9":"tag-basketball","10":"tag-ben-saraf","11":"tag-brooklyn","12":"tag-cavaliers","13":"tag-chaney-johnson","14":"tag-chet-holmgren","15":"tag-chris-paul","16":"tag-cleveland","17":"tag-denver","18":"tag-detroit","19":"tag-drake-powell","20":"tag-e-j-liddell","21":"tag-isaiah-joe","22":"tag-jalen-williams","23":"tag-jared-mccain","24":"tag-josh-minott","25":"tag-nba","26":"tag-nic-claxton","27":"tag-nikola-topic","28":"tag-okc","29":"tag-oklahoma-city","30":"tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander","31":"tag-thomas-sorber","32":"tag-toronto","33":"tag-tyson-etienne","34":"tag-ziaire-williams"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116106982995087277","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=615200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/615201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=615200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=615200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=615200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}