Jared McCain’s Scoring Surge Seals Nets Vs Thunder Result as Oklahoma City Dominates Second Quarter
In the nets vs thunder matchup on Friday night, the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Brooklyn Nets 105-86. The result underscored Oklahoma City’s depth and exposed persistent offensive struggles for Brooklyn.
Nets Vs Thunder: Development details
The game, scheduled for 7 p. m. CST on Friday, finished with Oklahoma City ahead 105-86. Jared McCain scored a season-high 21 points in a reserve role, making 7 of 12 field-goal attempts and 3 of 6 from long range. The rookie, acquired in a trade this month and previously with Philadelphia, posted his highest point total since joining Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City’s scoring was balanced beyond McCain: Chet Holmgren had 15 points, Isaiah Joe scored 11, and both Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort finished with 10 each. Brooklyn received 22 points and nine rebounds from Michael Porter Jr. and 17 points from Nolan Traore, but the team shot just 36. 7% from the field and suffered a third straight loss.
Context and pressure points
The Thunder entered the contest carrying a 42-14 mark after returning from the All-Star break following a 110-93 home loss earlier in the month. Oklahoma City was short-handed, missing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with an abdominal strain, Jalen Williams with a strained right hamstring, and Ajay Mitchell with an abdominal strain and left ankle sprain. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams are to be re-evaluated in the coming weeks.
Brooklyn came to town with a 15-39 record after a 112-84 road loss the night before and was without Nic Claxton because of a right ankle sprain. The Nets also rank last in the league in scoring (107. 2 points per game) and field-goal percentage (44. 4%), trends that carried into this matchup.
Immediate impact
Oklahoma City turned a tight first quarter into control early in the second, opening a 38-26 advantage as Brooklyn endured an 8½-minute stretch without a field goal. The Thunder led 50-33 at halftime after holding the Nets to 3-for-17 shooting in the second quarter; Brooklyn’s 10 points in that half were the fewest Oklahoma City has allowed this season.
McCain’s bench burst provided a timely lift for a club missing primary shot creators, and Nikola Topic, who recently made his NBA debut after treatment for testicular cancer, contributed with a 3-pointer and a finger roll during a 7-3 run that helped put the game further out of reach at 86-70. For Brooklyn, the deficit was compounded by poor shooting and the absence of interior defense with Claxton sidelined.
What makes this notable is how Oklahoma City’s supporting cast stepped up in the absence of its stars, converting depth into a decisive second-quarter advantage that the Nets could not overcome.
Forward outlook
Both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are slated for re-evaluation in the coming weeks, which is the next confirmed development for Oklahoma City’s availability picture. Brooklyn will remain without Nic Claxton while his ankle recovers. Beyond those medical checkpoints, the immediate calendar and milestones are limited to routine injury updates and re-assessments.
The timing matters because the Thunder’s ability to win while key players are under review strengthens their short-term positioning, while Brooklyn’s shooting woes and continued absences complicate any immediate recovery. The matter remains under review for both teams’ injured contributors, and confirmation on return timelines will come with medical re-evaluations already scheduled.
