Nique Clifford may not have been around long enough to know the whole playbook, but he could still find himself with a real workload Wednesday night.
That possibility comes straight from Thunder coach Daigneault, who joked that he doesn’t fully believe he knows Clifford’s first name is Mark, then made it clear the forward is already in the mix for more responsibility in the rematch with the Portland Trail Blazers. After Clifford’s debut in Tuesday’s 123-103 loss, Daigneault said he “thought he played good minutes” even with no real comfort level yet with the system or his new teammates. His philosophy with young players, he added, is simple: “If there’s an opportunity, get him out there.”
The timing could hardly be better for Clifford. Oklahoma City is heading into the second night of a back-to-back even thinner than it was before, with Ajay Mitchell now ruled out because of an ankle sprain. That leaves the Thunder with seven players on the injury report and plenty of minutes to sort through as they try to avoid their first consecutive losses of the season.
With Mitchell out, Oklahoma City will need someone else to step into a bigger role, and Clifford looks like one of the names that could benefit from the shortage.
The other obvious candidate is Jared McCain, who has started to heat up after a rough opening stretch, especially from the floor. Over the last three games, the 22-year-old has averaged 20.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 63.9 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from three.
He was especially sharp in Tuesday’s loss to Portland, scoring 21 points - second on the team behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26 - while knocking down four of seven shots from deep and finishing 50.0 percent overall.
When McCain is rolling, he changes the shape of Oklahoma City’s offense. The Thunder are 15-3 when he scores at least 14 points in regular-season and playoff games combined, a stretch that gives Wednesday’s rematch a familiar blueprint if he can keep that rhythm going.
In Other News...
Jared McCains Surge Suddenly Matters More For OKC Than Ever
With Ajay Mitchell ruled out for the upcoming game against Portland because of an ankle sprain, the Thunder suddenly have a little more room for someone else to shoulder the scoring load. Jared McCain has been trending up at the right time, and his recent efficiency has given Oklahoma City another perimeter option to lean on as it prepares for the rematch.
McCain already showed what that can look like against the Trail Blazers, when he put up 21 points in the previous meeting. If that kind of production carries over again, the Thunder could be asking him to do more than just fill minutes. The bigger question is whether this surge is the start of a larger offensive role or just a timely burst when Oklahoma City needs it most. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Get Immediate Shot To Answer Portland Without Key Pieces
The Thunder get an immediate chance to reset the tone Wednesday night in Portland, where theyll face the Trail Blazers again at the Moda Center just one day after the teams opened this back-to-back. Oklahoma City is still in the early part of the season, but these quick rematches can say plenty about how a team handles a loss, especially on the road and on short rest.
This one also comes with some lineup uncertainty for Oklahoma City, which adds another layer to a game that already has the feel of a response opportunity. The broadcast details, betting line and projected starters are all in place, but the bigger question is whether the Thunder can bring a cleaner, sharper version of themselves into the second meeting and leave Portland with a different result. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face One Lineup Question In Crucial Portland Rematch
The Thunders second game in as many nights at the Moda Center brings a familiar kind of test, one shaped as much by attrition as by the opponent. Oklahoma City is back in Portland for a crucial rematch with a roster thinned by injuries, while the Trail Blazers are also navigating their own absences, leaving both teams to adjust on the fly in a game that could hinge on depth and lineup flexibility.
For the Thunder, the biggest question is how they piece together the rotation without several regular contributors available. The absences have opened the door for veteran Alex Caruso to move into the starting lineup, a notable wrinkle for a team trying to keep its footing in a back-to-back setting. With so many moving parts on both sides, the early minutes may say a lot about how Oklahoma City plans to survive this stretch. [Read more 🡒]