Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 34 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a convincing 123-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, drawing the series level at 1-1.
After suffering a heartbreaking last-second loss in Game 1, the No.1 seeded Thunder responded in emphatic fashion on Sunday night in front of their home fans, rediscovering their rhythm on both ends of the floor to overpower the Pacers.
Gilgeous-Alexander, fresh off a 38-point outing in the opener, once again carried the scoring load, but this time received much stronger support.
Alex Caruso came off the bench firing, hitting four three-pointers en route to 20 points. Aaron Wiggins added 18, knocking down five of his eight attempts from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma City’s defensive intensity was also noticeably sharper. The Thunder clamped down on Indiana’s explosive offense, forcing key turnovers and limiting Tyrese Haliburton to just 17 points.
The Pacers guard also committed five turnovers under constant pressure.
“We just know with them, that’s where it starts – they’re a high-powered offense,” said Gilgeous-Alexander after the game.
“They play fast, score a bunch of points, and if you don’t get stops, you’re running all night. They can beat you that way.”
The Thunder never trailed after the opening minutes, building a lead that ballooned as high as 20 points in the second half.
After the late-game disappointment on Thursday, their ability to reset and respond was a testament to the squad’s mental strength.
“Basketball is a game of ups and downs,” Gilgeous-Alexander added. “The series is full of them, and it’s about the team that can stay level-headed and get better through those experiences.”
Game 3 shifts to Indiana on Wednesday, June 11, where the Thunder will look to carry this momentum into enemy territory as they continue their hunt for a first NBA championship since 1979.
