Mark Daigneault credited Oklahoma City’s defensive intensity after the Thunder held Washington to 75 points, the lowest total by any NBA team this season.
“I thought we forced them to their layers,” Daigneault said after Oklahoma City’s 114-75 victory on Saturday. “I thought the intensity on that end of the floor really for 48 minutes, including the fourth quarter. I thought the group that was out there in the fourth quarter did a hell of a job defensively.”
The Thunder improved to 8-2, while the Wizards fell to 4-6 after losing their third consecutive game. Washington shot just 29.6% from the field and made seven of 43 three-point attempts.
“There’s always shooting,” Daigneault said. “They did not get off to a good start shooting the ball and missed makeable shots, but I do think we forced them to their layers.”
The coach also praised his team’s response after Washington entered the game averaging 52 points in the paint. The Wizards finished with 32, despite playing without Anthony Davis.
“We threw bodies at him, which you have to do to take away his options,” Daigneault said of defending Trae Young. “He’s a great playmaker.”
Daigneault also highlighted the Thunder’s work against Washington’s other offensive threats, including rookie AJ Dybantsa.
“We contested shots. No useless fouls, which was a carryover from last night,” he said. “We fouled too much last night. So, again, we made them earn it on a lot of possessions.”
Jared McCain scored 19 points, providing another boost after working through a difficult shooting stretch. Daigneault said he appreciated the guard’s ability to remain aggressive without losing sight of his other responsibilities.
“He stayed inside the team. He stayed in character. He stayed aggressive,” Daigneault said. “And he stayed balanced as a player. It just didn’t become all about trying to find his shot.”
Rookie Aday Mara also earned praise after recording 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Daigneault noted that Mara has delivered impactful minutes consistently despite being a rookie playing a demanding position.
“He’s been really consistent,” the coach said. “He’s played impactful minutes every single night, which is hard to do for a rookie player, especially at that position.”
Daigneault also used Isaiah Hartenstein’s recent performances to explain why scoring does not define a player’s impact. Hartenstein had two points and 14 rebounds against Washington, with Oklahoma City winning his minutes by 25.
“That’s a great example of an impactful winning player that can do it in all the other ways outside of the counting stats with points,” Daigneault said.
He added that players such as Alex Caruso and Kenrich Williams help establish that identity throughout the locker room. McCain, despite being a strong scorer and shooter, has embraced those responsibilities.
“It’s a shout-out to him, but it’s a shout-out to the environment we have in our locker room,” Daigneault said.
