After dropping Game 1 in heartbreaking fashion, the Oklahoma City Thunder responded with force in Game 2, overpowering the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday night to level the NBA Finals at one game apiece.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s All-NBA guard, was the catalyst behind the resurgence. He poured in 34 points along with eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals, making 11 of his 12 free throw attempts and delivering clutch finishes during Oklahoma City’s game-defining second-quarter run.
“You can’t just throw the first punch,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “You’ve got to throw all the punches all night.”
The Thunder did just that, especially in a pivotal second-quarter stretch when they went on a 19-2 run. It was a burst fueled by tight defense and relentless pressure. During that stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander scored seven of Oklahoma City’s final nine points, all coming off Indiana turnovers, swinging the momentum firmly in the Thunder’s favor.
While the Pacers momentarily responded with a 10-0 burst to trim the deficit, they never got closer than 13 points for the rest of the contest.
Head coach Mark Daigneault credited the win not to one factor but to a combination of improvements. “I think we were just a little bit better in a lot of areas,” he said. The Thunder doubled their assist tally from Game 1, turned Indiana’s mistakes into transition points, and found stronger performances across the roster.
Chet Holmgren, who struggled in the opener, bounced back with 15 points, hitting five straight shots early to set the tone. Jalen Williams, though not highly efficient, added 19 points, hitting 8-of-9 from the free-throw line and contributing five assists. Bench players Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins made a significant impact, scoring 20 and 18 points respectively.
On the defensive end, Luguentz Dort continued to frustrate Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. After sinking the Game 1 winner, Haliburton was held to just five points before the fourth quarter and finished with 17. “I have to figure out how to be better at the beginning of games,” Haliburton admitted.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged Oklahoma City’s edge inside. “They’re the best team in the league at keeping the ball out of there,” he said, as the Thunder dominated the paint 26-12 in the first half and lead that category 88-68 across the series.
With the series shifting to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Wednesday, the Thunder carry both momentum and a renewed belief that they can trade punches, and land enough of them, to challenge for the championship.
