Marc Daigneault reveals the driving force behind 18-point comeback against Jazz

Mark Daigneault and Oklahoma City The Thunder erased an 18-point deficit to win for 32 points in a 144-112 loss vs Utah Jazz. In a game that saw the Thunder’s bench score 71 points, the second most in franchise history, Daigneault highlighted four players who led the second unit.

Without Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City’s bench muscle, Dayno believes the Thunder wouldn’t have succeeded pull off a comeback win.

“We saw the difference between how a team can play against us when our pressure and physicality isn’t there, and when it is. I thought we really flipped a switch on that end of the floor, and that changed the tone of the game,” Daigneault said. “The game is pretty tough in the first quarter, and it’s hard to get a handle on it.”

“And I thought J-Will, I-Joe, Caruso, Ajayi — those guys came in and raised the tone, and got the game back to a stable place, which allowed us to just keep going the rest of the game. I thought those were two very key things tonight.”

Jaylin Williams drained a career-high five 3-pointers, while he and Isaiah Joe combined to go 9-of-12 from deep. Alex Caruso added 11 points, three assists and one steal, and Ajay Mitchell finished with ten points, four assists and two steals.

“J-Will, I-Joe and Caruso; I thought those guys especially helped us at different times,” Daigno added. “In the first quarter, late in the first quarter and then, in the third quarter. Then the group that started the second quarter did a really good job of getting into the lead after we got things under control. But that game could have gone a lot differently if we don’t change the tone and if we don’t get some contributions from those guys.”

Mark Daigneault and the Thunder improved their league-leading record to 16-1 and 2-0 in the NBA Cup to play.

The Thunder’s bench combined for 71 points in the win against the Jazz

The Thunder’s 71 points off the bench made franchise history in an 18-point comeback win against the Jazz on the road. Branden Carlson enjoyed his homecoming against the Jazz. He scored seven points in nine minutes as the Thunder’s second unit continued to dominate amid a 20+ point lead in a 34 point fourth quarter.

Eight Thunder players scored in double figures, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 31 points and eight assists. Isaiah Hartenstein (12 points, seven assists) and Chet Holmgren (11 points, two steals) combined for 23 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and three steals.

The Thunder will return home on Sunday to face the Trail Blazers.