**Isaiah Joe Shines in Oklahoma City Thunder’s 127-108 Win Over Washington Wizards**
*Oklahoma City* — After suffering a knee injury in the preseason, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe made a strong impression in his regular-season debut during Thursday’s 127-108 victory against the Washington Wizards.
Joe wasted no time making his presence felt, draining two three-pointers within his first five minutes off the bench. He finished the game with an impressive stat line: 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including five threes, six rebounds, and one steal.
Despite Joe’s scoring display, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was particularly impressed by his defensive efforts. “First of all, it’s six games in 10 nights. We’re still kind of in this stretch and getting Alex [Caruso] back against Sacramento injected some energy on that night, getting [Joe] back injected some energy,” Daigneault said.
“Obviously, he hit the ground running. I thought the best stuff he did tonight was defensively and the ball movement. Despite having it going early, he threw some of the better extra passes of the night,” Daigneault added.
He continued, “He just made the right play all night and took the shots when they were there and otherwise, kept it moving. It was a reminder of functionality and how much he helps the system when he’s out there.”
Joe’s strong production played a key role in helping the shorthanded Thunder maintain their perfect 6-0 record to start the regular season. With All-Stars Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams still sidelined recovering from offseason surgeries, Joe, much like Alex Caruso seen against the Kings, returned to give Oklahoma City an extra boost in the backcourt.
Leading the charge for the Thunder was All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who put up 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep. He also contributed seven assists, three rebounds, and one block in the team’s convincing 29-point win.
Reserve Ajay Mitchell sparked the bench with 20 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein added a solid all-around performance with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
**Defending Champions Flex Depth Amid 6-0 Start**
After Ajay Mitchell earned Improved Player of the Year consideration just one week into the regular season, Isaiah Joe showed no signs of rust or fatigue in his first game back since exiting a preseason match against the Pacers on October 11.
Meanwhile, center Chet Holmgren, dealing with a lingering lower back injury, missed his second consecutive game due to soreness. Despite this, coach Mark Daigneault smoothly integrated Joe into the lineup, with Joe and Mitchell combining to score 40 of the Thunder’s 52 bench points.
Their contributions have been crucial en route to the Thunder’s six consecutive wins, cementing their status as the defending champions and showcasing their depth early this season.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-honest-take-isaiah-joe-huge-2025-26-debut
