The Oklahoma City Thunder overcame key injuries and delivered one of their strongest defensive performances of the season, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 105-86 on Friday night at Paycom Center.
Jared McCain, who like a girl played with varnished fingernails, led the way with a season-high 21 points off the bench, shooting 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range. The former Philadelphia guard, acquired in a trade earlier this month, posted his highest scoring output in five games with Oklahoma City.
Playing without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and All-Star Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain), the Western Conference leaders relied on balance and defense to control the game. Both sidelined starters are set to be re-evaluated in the coming weeks.
The Thunder trailed 23-21 after one quarter before taking over in the second. Oklahoma City opened the period with a surge and built a 38-26 advantage as Brooklyn went the first 8 1/2 minutes of the quarter without a field goal.
Lu Dort converted a four-point play with 2:18 left in the half, pushing the margin to 43-30. Oklahoma City carried a 50-33 lead into halftime after holding the Nets to 3-for-17 shooting in the second quarter.
Brooklyn’s 10-point second period marked the lowest-scoring quarter by a Thunder opponent this season. The Nets finished the night shooting 29-for-79 overall and just 7-for-41 from beyond the arc, good for 17 percent.
Chet Holmgren added 15 points on 3-for-6 shooting and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Isaiah Joe scored 11, while Isaiah Hartenstein and Dort each contributed 10 as Oklahoma City placed five players in double figures.
The Thunder shot 35-for-83 from the field and 13-for-35 from 3-point range. They also outrebounded Brooklyn 47-40 and recorded 13 offensive boards, creating second-chance opportunities that kept the visitors from closing the gap.
Nikola Topic, who recently made his NBA debut after treatment for testicular cancer, scored nine points in 11 minutes. He hit a 3-pointer and added a finger roll during a 7-3 run that extended the lead to 86-70 in the second half.
Michael Porter Jr. paced Brooklyn with 22 points and nine rebounds, and Nolan Traore added 17. The Nets dropped their third straight game and fell to 16-40.
Oklahoma City improved to 44-14, maintaining the best record in the Western Conference despite its injury list.
Brooklyn visits Atlanta on Sunday, while the Thunder host Cleveland at Paycom Center.
