Why the Spurs’ Mason Plumlee was assessed a flagrant foul after Game 5

OKLAHOMA CITY — Spurs backup center Mason Plumlee has totaled four minutes of playing time in the Western Conference finals. That did not stop him from making his presence felt Tuesday night.

McCain, who was making his first playoff start with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell injured for the Thunder, finished with 20 points to help spearhead the win. Two of those points came on free throws after the 22-year-old McCain was waylaid by the 36-year-old Plumlee.

The 22-year-old guard recounted the incident with the 36-year-old Plumlee in his postgame news conference.

“That was crazy. I didn’t expect it, obviously,” McCain said. “We were at the free-throw line, too, and I was like, ‘Why’d you do that man?’ I’m just asking him questions, and he was like, ‘I’ve got another one for you, too.'”

Even so, McCain chalked the rough play up to the ruggedness of the playoffs.

“It’s all in competition,” McCain said, “so got to respect it.”