Jared Mccain Sparks Thunder With 36-26 Lead In Game 1
jared mccain changed Game 1 in one possession. His pull-up three-pointer against Deandre Ayton gave Oklahoma City a 36-26 lead in the second quarter at Paycom Center on May 6, 2026.
The shot came in the second-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers and fit the role Oklahoma City has carved out for McCain since acquiring him in February. He provides instant offense off the bench, and this one pushed the Thunder into a double-digit lead while the game was still in the second quarter.
Paycom Center Swing
McCain took the shot cleanly against Ayton and buried it before the bench reaction took over. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams celebrated animatedly after the basket, a quick flash of energy from two players with different availability on the night.
Williams was out with a hamstring injury and was considered week-to-week. Oklahoma City still had enough firepower to control the second quarter, and McCain’s jumper became the play that widened the gap instead of just extending a run.
Thunder Depth Pushes Ahead
Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 points, two rebounds, and four assists as of writing, while Chet Holmgren posted 20 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Those numbers show why Oklahoma City could absorb Williams’ absence and keep the pressure on the Lakers without leaning on one scorer alone.
LeBron James scored 10 points in just five minutes for Los Angeles, but the Thunder had already set the tone by the time McCain’s three dropped. After making light work of the Phoenix Suns in the opening round, Oklahoma City entered this series with a bench piece who has already turned into a steady source of scoring when the offense needs a clean answer.
McCain’s February Move
McCain arrived from the Philadelphia 76ers in February, and the move has already shown up in the kind of possession that changes a playoff game’s rhythm. In a series where Oklahoma City is defending its title, a reserve guard hitting that shot in that spot is the kind of edge that can tilt a half before the opponent can settle in.
For the Lakers, the immediate problem was not just the score at 36-26. It was the way Oklahoma City used one bench bucket to turn a strong second-quarter stretch into a clearer control point, with McCain again giving the Thunder the burst they wanted when the starters needed a break.
