In the Western Conference Finals, after the Thunder overtook the Spurs, DeGnott praised the bench players for bringing tremendous motivation to the Thunder.

In the third round of the 2025/26 NBA Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, after a tough battle, relied on points from Gilgeous-Alexander, Jared McCain, and Jeremy Williams to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 123-1 on the road, taking a 2-1 lead in the series against Mitch Johnson's team.

According to the data, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and 12 assists in this key game, Jared McCain scored 24 points and 1 assist, while Jalin Williams contributed 18 points and 1 assist for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When discussing the San Antonio Spurs' offensive onslaught in this game, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach DeGnott said, "It really felt like a punch to the gut. I have to give them credit; they got into the game very quickly and put a lot of pressure on us from the start. They caught us off guard with their defense, transition offense, and pressure. But I think we showed great composure and understood that the game is 48 minutes long."

"The bench has been a huge help to us from the start. Alex Caruso, Carson Wallace, Jalin Williams and Jared McCain have all brought tremendous energy to the game, and it all started when they helped the team get the game back under control."

Degnot emphasized, "At this stage of the game, if you're not fearless, the team might lose and go home. Confidence in the playoffs isn't just about playing well all the time, but about being able to withstand the opponent's heavy blows and keep fighting back."

“Jared McCain didn’t back down at all; he immediately integrated into the team’s rhythm. And Jellin Williams is the most typical and understands team competition. His intangible value is amazing; he is an incredible team player who always puts himself in the team system.”

Degnot pointed out, "Alex Caruso's defensive ability goes without saying, and offensively, his control of the game's tempo is also excellent. As long as he's on the court, our entire offensive rhythm will be significantly improved."

“We knew we would face this situation before the game, and we couldn’t play too recklessly against them. They are excellent at ball handling and have a very high level of coaching, while I think we did a very good job in terms of discipline.”

In addition, Degnot said, "Giljes Alexander has been telling himself how to play based on the situation of the game. He has an outstanding ability to remain calm and focused even when the game becomes complicated."

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