Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder to Victory and Ties NBA Finals
Oklahoma City, led by an unstoppable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, achieved a resounding 123-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers, tying the NBA Finals series at 1-1. Gilgeous-Alexander’s outstanding performance, with 34 points, was crucial for the Thunder’s triumph.
The night was even more special for Gilgeous-Alexander, as his first basket allowed him to reach 3,000 points in the season, including the playoffs. In addition, he finished the game as the top scorer of the postseason, surpassing Jalen Brunson.
From the bench, Alex Caruso contributed 20 crucial points, while Jalen Williams (19), Aaron Wiggins (18), and Chet Holmgren (15) also contributed significantly to Oklahoma City’s triumph, securing their first Finals victory since 2012.The key to the game was an impressive 19-2 run in the second quarter, which extended the home team’s lead to 23 points. This offensive silenced any comeback attempts by Indiana, who were never able to get close enough to endanger the result.
The atmosphere in the Paycom Center was deafening, with a noise that exceeded 100 decibels at several points in the game, reflecting the euphoria of a city that is dreaming of the championship again.
For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton led the scoring with 17 points, followed by Myles Turner (16) and Pascal Siakam (15). However, Indiana became the first team since Miami in 2013 to not have a player with 20 or more points in the first two games of the Finals.
The next game, the third game of the series, will be played on Wednesday in Indianapolis, marking the return of the Finals to that city after 25 years.
The Thunder, with an impressive record of 18 wins and only two losses after losing a game this season, once again demonstrated their ability to bounce back from adversity.
