Mark Daigneault reacts to Isaiah Joe’s elite shooting for the Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched Isaiah Joe matched his career-high eight 3-pointers on Sunday 127-101 against the Brooklyn Nets. The fifth-year guard has been shooting at an elite level this month, connecting on 49.2% of his 3-pointers for 3.2 points per game. Joe finished with 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting, all of which came from beyond the three-point arc.

After the victory, Daigneault addressed Joe’s on a hot streak in January and he’s not surprised to see Isaiah bounce back from a brief slump in December.

“He’s like all these other guys we’ve talked about where we’re willing to take a step back to take two steps forward,” Daigneault said. “Up until this point, he’s been kind of a stationary shooter, which, especially with Shai, is really powerful, with the gravitas that Shai has, just to throw in the four and shoot.” We think it has more because of its speed, its engine and its gravity. So we put it in motion more, checked more things through it.”

Joe wasted no time getting warm early and often from deep. He connected on his first 3-pointer at 9:52 early in the frame and finished with four from behind the three-point arc, helping the Thunder to a 39-point first quarter.

“The first game tonight is a good example of that,” Daigneault added. “So he went through a little bit of growing pains there and from then on he got into a good rhythm and had another night like New York where he just put a bunch of shots together.” And he really opened up the game very early for us.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting, a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line and 10 assists.

After a 126-101 win against the New York Knicks, Gilgeous-Alexander praised Joe’s elite shooting at Madison Square Garden.

“Isaiah Joe is spectacular for our group,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He came somewhat unexpectedly.” He has been a worker since day one. He turns it off.”

Marc Daigneault’s honest look at Isaiah Joe’s elite shooting

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed Isaiah Joe’s unwavering confidence after beating the Knicks earlier this month. It’s something he’s been waiting for at some point in January.

“We know he is capable of it.” “He’s had it before, and this season he hasn’t shot the ball the way he wanted to,” Daigneault said. “We were kind of waiting for this kind of game. At least I was. It was a matter of time. Big trust from him.”

The Thunder will host the Jazz at the Paicom Center on Wednesday.