Degnot praised Adai Mara for always having a positive impact.

Thanks to contributions from Gilgeous-Alexander, Jared McCain, and Adai Mara, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Washington Wizards 114-75 in another game of the 2026/27 NBA regular season. Head coach DeGnott stated that rookie Adai Mara has been consistently strong and impactful in every game.

According to the data, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and 9 assists in this game, Jared McCain scored 19 points and 2 assists, and Adai Mara contributed 18 points and 3 assists for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach DeGnott said, "I think we successfully forced our opponents to attack at the pace and in the way we set, and the defensive intensity lasted for the entire 48 minutes, including the fourth quarter. I think the players who remained on the court in the fourth quarter performed exceptionally well defensively."

"Shooting touch is certainly a factor. The Washington Wizards didn't shoot well at the start of the game and missed some shots that they had the chance to make. But I do think that we forced them to choose some less-than-ideal offensive options through our defense."

Regarding how to deal with Washington Wizards star Trae Young in the game, DeGnott said, "We put multiple players on help defense to put pressure on him, which is the only way to limit his offensive options, but he is a very good playmaker."

"We actively disrupted the opponent's shots and avoided unnecessary fouls, which is something we continued from the experience of the last game. We committed too many fouls in the last game, so this time we forced the opponent to work harder to get every opportunity."

DeGnott also said, "Jared McCain has always integrated into the team's system, hasn't deviated from his role, and has always maintained offensive aggression. At the same time, he has also maintained mental balance during the game, not letting himself be preoccupied with finding shooting opportunities."

“Adai Mara has been consistently strong, delivering impactful performances in every game, which is not easy for a rookie, especially for the position he plays.”

In addition, Hartenstein only scored two points in this game, but grabbed 14 rebounds.

Degnot stated, "This is a great example of how a player who can help the team win can contribute to the team in many other ways, even without these scoring statistics."

Image source: Internet