The Oklahoma City Thunder earned a statement win on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, handily defeating one of the hottest offenses in the league while still missing their two stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
After the month the Thunder have had, this performance was highly encouraging. They forced 17 turnovers on the night, obliging Cleveland into a fast-paced game that ultimately favored Oklahoma City. They knocked down their attempts from the perimeter, converting 51.2% of their shots from beyond the arc. Even Chet Holmgren returned to form, posting 17 points and 15 rebounds in another dominant performance.
Yet the most important takeaway from the game is a relatively surprising one. Isaiah Joe had an excellent outing, posting 22 points, two rebounds, and three assists while converting 6 of his 11 attempts from 3-point range.
If Joe (and, to a lesser extent, Aaron Wiggins) have truly started to find their strides, it could be the best indicator of another championship run for the Thunder.
Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins are the Thunder's secret championship ingredient
To contextualize this claim, we'll need to revisit last year's remarkable run.
After struggling for much of the 2024-25 season on offense, Joe found his stride in early February. From Feb. 3 onward, he averaged 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc.
Same thing with Wiggins. From Feb. 3 onward last season, Wiggins averaged 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while converting 40.6% of his 3-point attempts.
Both players carried this momentum into the posteason, ultimately becoming instrumental in Oklahoma City's offensive approach in their most clutch moments.
Joe and Wiggins are both capable of feeding off of the gravity that Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams provide. This makes them highly important role players for the Thunder.
What's so encouraging about this is that Joe's performance against Cleveland is merely the most prevalent example that these two players are starting to find their late-season form again. Over his past eight games, Joe is averaging an impressive 16.9 points while shooting 53.6% from beyond the arc.
Wiggins, meanwhile, has taken a step forward offensively this year. His production all season long has matched the heights he reached down the stretch in 2024-25.
Although these players will take on lesser offensive roles when the team is back to full strength, one things is clear. Both Wiggins and Joe have found their championship form, and it could be the secret ingredient that leads the Thunder back to the summit.