How Isaiah Joe’s elite shooting is a testament to OKC’s ‘brand of basketball’

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Joe continued his hot shooting streak in Wednesday’s 136-109 win against the Phoenix Suns. Joe’s 21 points on 6-for-10 shooting, including six 3-pointers, led the Thunder bench, as Isaiah has made three or more 3-pointers in five of his last six games.

He’s shooting at a 50% clip from deep in February, averaging 3.5 threes a night. For Joe, his elite recording lately is a byproduct of the Thunder’s offense, which has capitalized on the outside touch amid four wins in six tries this month.

“Team bonding. Everyone plays together,” Joe said. “Obviously the shots are going in, but I think that comes with the style of play. We move the ball. Everybody feels the energy of the game, they get the flow, and it shows outside.”

Joe’s 21 points led a Thunder bench that combined for 74 points in Wednesday’s win against the Suns.

“We have a winning mindset and we understand that in order to win games with the pieces that we have, we have to play a certain type of basketball, and that just comes with moving the rock and everybody getting the feel,” Joe said. “Keeping the ball in front of the defense is something we talk about, and we just go out there and do it to the best of our ability.”

Isaiah Joe has connected on 28 of his last 58 3-point attempts over the Thunder’s previous eight games. All-Star Shai Giljus-Alexander missed his fourth straight game with an abdominal injury. Oklahoma City is 2-2 in its last four games.

Marc Daigneault reacts to Jalen Williams’ 28 points in the Thunder’s win

Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault praised Jalen Williams’ 28-point performance in the Thunder’s 27-point win against the Suns on the road. The night after his jersey retirement ceremony at his high school just outside Phoenix, Arizona, Williams went a perfect 11-for-11 from the floor en route to 28 points. He finished 11-for-12 in three quarters, 20 minutes to be exact.

In just his second game back from a 10-game absence with a hamstring injury, Williams dominated the Suns, which Daigneault found touching special two-day span for his starting forward.

“He was cooking. That was impressive. He was in a great flow,” Daigneault said. “I thought he had a great mix of offense, including some passes that were really, really good. He did a great job. It was an incredibly complete game. It caps off a really memorable journey for him as he retired his high school jersey last night.

“Then for him to play in his hometown the way he played in front of his people is pretty special. So I’m incredibly happy for him. We’re certainly thrilled to have him there. He’s doing a great job.”

The Thunder will host the Bucks at the Paicom Center on Thursday.