The newly crowned Oklahoma City Thunder humbled the Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. They took down the Indiana Pacers by a final score of 123-107 on Sunday. The victory evens the best-of-seven series at one game each. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred and became a key figure in the Thunder’s breakout success.
Gilgeous-Alexander continued his scorching start to the season, leading Oklahoma City with a game-high 34 points. His performance included eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals, highlighting his all-around contribution on both ends of the court. Perhaps most impressive, he was perfect at the free-throw line, hitting 11 of 12 shots.
The Thunder’s defense showed to be extremely important in the game, helping create a key 19-2 run that would give them a comfortable lead. Gilgeous-Alexander accounted for seven of Oklahoma City’s final nine points, all created from Indy mishaps. This aggressive play demonstrated the team’s resilience and ability to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes.
“We just missed a ton of haymakers,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. “You can’t just throw the first punch. It’s like, man you’re just going to have to land every punch every round. His statement served as a microcosm of the Thunder’s mindset going into game five, and their desire to force their opponents to play from behind for all four quarters.”
Mark Daigneault, head coach of the Thunder, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, stating, “I think we were just a little bit better in a lot of areas.” This mood captured the collective optimism shown by Oklahoma City in the wake of a much better showing than in Game 1.
Caruso, a crucial role player for the 2023 Oklahoma-starring Thunder, even agreed with Gilgeous-Alexander’s recognition for self-awareness within his team. “He knows the role he needs to play for us to win the series and pick up that trophy at the end,” Caruso stated. His evaluation serves as a powerful reminder to the value of collaboration and tactical application as the videos continue on in the series.
On the defensive end, Gilgeous-Alexander not only led his team but took on significant assignments, including guarding Tyrese Haliburton during crucial moments. Haliburton had previously secured a dramatic Game 1 victory for Indiana, but he struggled to find a rhythm against Oklahoma City’s defense in Game 2.
Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Pacers, recognized the challenge posed by the Thunder’s defense, remarking, “They’re the best team in the league at keeping the ball out of there.” As hard as they tried, Indiana couldn’t keep up with the intensity and execution that Oklahoma City brought.
As the series heads to Indiana for Game 3, both teams will have some major adjustments to make on both ends of the floor. Haliburton acknowledged this need for improvement, stating, “I have to figure out how to be better at the beginning of games.” This introspection marks a commitment to coming out of the gate strong as they look to recapture the momentum.
