Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander discovered a lesson to open the NBA Finals.
“You may’t simply throw the primary punch,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated after Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals towards the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening. “You’ve received to throw all of the punches all evening.”
Gilgeous-Alexander and the remainder of the Thunder threw loads of haymakers, serving to Oklahoma Metropolis to a 123-107 victory to even the collection 1-1 going into Wednesday’s Recreation 3 in Indianapolis.
That was a departure from Recreation 1 final Thursday, when the Thunder led by 15 within the fourth quarter earlier than Indiana got here again to win the sport 111-110 on a basket within the ultimate second.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the best way on Sunday for Oklahoma Metropolis, scoring 34 with eight assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals and went 11 of 12 on free throws.
There have been loads of areas of enchancment from Recreation 1 for Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to level out after the victory.
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Oklahoma Metropolis had extra success turning Indiana’s turnovers into factors on the different finish, received higher manufacturing from Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, had practically double the assists after posting a season-low 13 in Recreation 1, and received an offensive activate the bench from Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins.
Daigneault stated none of these alone had been the distinction maker, however all got here collectively for a significantly better consequence for his crew. “I feel we had been just a bit bit higher in a number of areas.”
The most important stretch of the sport got here within the second quarter, when the Thunder ripped off a 19-2 run that was fueled by each their protection and Gilgeous-Alexander’s finishes on the opposite finish.
To that time, Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection hadn’t compelled many turnovers and it hadn’t taken benefit of the few it had triggered. However throughout that large run, Gilgeous-Alexander scored seven of Oklahoma Metropolis’s final 9 factors — all off Pacers’ turnovers.
Indiana rapidly answered with a 10-0 run to make it 52-39, however by no means received nearer than that 13-point deficit. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 26-12 within the paint within the first half and, for the collection, now lead 88-68 in that class.
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“They’re the most effective crew within the league at retaining the ball out of there,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated. “… It’s a tricky process.”
In Recreation 1, Jalen WIlliams and Chet Holmgren mixed to shoot simply 8 of 28 from the ground, with Holmgren going simply 2-for-9 with six factors. Holmgren seemed rather more settled early on in Recreation 2, hitting 5 consecutive photographs after lacking his first of the sport.
Whereas Williams wasn’t overly environment friendly, scoring 19 factors on 5-of-14 capturing, he did go 8-for-9 on the free-throw line and added 5 assists. Holmgren completed with 15 factors whereas Caruso added 20 and Wiggins 18 off the bench.
Tyrese Haliburton, the star of Recreation 1 after hitting the game-winning shot within the ultimate second, led the Pacers with 17 factors, although 12 of these got here within the ultimate quarter with the sport pretty effectively in hand for Oklahoma Metropolis.
Over the primary two video games of the collection, Haliburton is a mixed 3-for-9 with 9 factors earlier than halftime.
“I’ve to determine learn how to be higher initially of video games,” Haliburton stated. “Kudos to them; they’re an awesome defensive crew.”
An enormous a part of the Thunder’s defensive success towards Haliburton has been due to Luguentz Dort. He has spent loads of time guarding Haliburton however was on the alternative aspect of the ground for Haliburton’s Recreation 1 winner.
Dort completed with simply three factors, although Caruso gave Dort loads of credit score for the victory. “He is aware of the function he must play for us to win the collection and choose up that trophy on the finish,” Caruso stated.
Myles Turner added 16 for Indiana, whereas Pascal Siakam scored 15 factors on 3-of-11 capturing.