What a night it was for Isaiah Joe, who the Oklahoma City Thunder picked up just days before the season started after the Philadelphia 76ers waived him in October. New front office member Vince Rozman, who came over from the 76ers this offseason, was a big advocate for adding Joe, and you saw why in Phoenix.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had to take on the Kevin Durant-less Phoenix Suns without their star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is tabbed as day-to-day with a hip flexor and ankle soreness. This was on the second night of a back-to-back following a tough overtime loss to the Utah Jazz, which knocked the Thunder out of play-in positioning.
The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Isaiah Joe drop a career-high 28 points in the team’s loss to the Suns.
Without their leading scorer, the OKC Thunder needed someone to step up in place of the offensive juggernaut that is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Instead, they saw Isaiah Joe step up in a big way, creating mid-range jumpers off the dribble while maintaining his three-point sniper prowess.
Following this game against the Suns, in which Isaiah Joe went a jaw-dropping 6-for-12 from three-point land, the Thunder guard is now shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc on nearly five attempts per game (4.8).
Joe set a career-high for points in a half when he exploded for 21 first-half points on Friday night on the biggest stage, ESPN, with a lethal sharpshooter and NBA Veteran JJ Reddick on the broadcast raving about the Arkansas products ‘ point ability.
The 23-year-old poured in a career-high 28 points, grabbing seven rebounds while shooting 50 percent from a distance and 67 percent from the floor.
Isaiah Joe was electric off the catch-and-shoot, even with a hand in his face, while also curling off screens and jacking up leaning threes to create shooting space. The shooting guard also got it done inside; on a few cuts to the rim, he found lanes to the ring to slam home a dunk off of a nice Jaylin Williams pass.
Ultimately, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Suns on Friday night, 124-115, without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup. But Isaiah Joe continues to make his case as the best free agent signing in Thunder history.