Oklahoma City – The Thunder have had a consistent pattern this season: if they lose a game, they bounce back stronger in the next one.
And that’s just what happened in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 34 points, while Alex Caruso contributed 20 off the bench. The Thunder secured the finals with a decisive 123-107 win against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.
Jalen Williams added 19 points, Aaron Wiggins scored 18, and Chet Holmgren had 15 points. This marked the franchise’s first appearance in the finals since they faced off against Miami in 2012.
“We did some good things tonight, and some not-so-good things,” Gilgeous-Alexander remarked. “We need to improve as we prepare for Game 3.”
For Indiana, Tyrese Halliburton scored 17 points, after putting up 15 in Game 1 and momentarily rallying in the fourth quarter. However, they fell short this time. Miles Turner added 16 points, and Pascal Siakam chipped in with 15. This is the first team since Miami in 2013 without a player scoring 20 points in the first two games of the finals.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday in Indianapolis, which is particularly noteworthy as it’s the city’s first finals appearance in 25 years.
On a personal note, Gilgeous-Alexander’s initial basket of the night was significant—it marked his crossing of 3,000 points for the season, including regular season and playoffs. Later in the game, he surpassed New York’s Jalen Brunson to become the highest overall scorer in the playoffs.
Yet, the real highlight for the MVP was winning the finals for the first time just hours later.
A 19-2 run in the second quarter transformed a 6-point game into a 23-point lead for the Thunder. It felt a little shaky at times, especially when the Pacers momentarily responded with a 10-0 run, bringing the game to 52-39. Still, the Thunder’s lead never seemed in real jeopardy.
The noise in the arena often reached levels above 100 dB, comparable to a chainsaw at 110 dB, underscoring the home advantage the Thunder enjoyed throughout the season. After narrowly losing 111-110 in Game 1, their resilience was remarkable.
Though it doesn’t technically count toward standings, including NBA Cup titles, the Thunder’s record stands impressively at 18-2 this season, with 12 of those wins being by double digits.
