There was no Game 2 miracle for the Indiana Pacers.
The Oklahoma City Thunder seized early control of Sunday’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals and never let go en route to a 123-107 win. With the win, the Thunder tie the series at 1-1 and avoid digging an 0-2 deficit on their home court before the series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an effort worthy of an NBA MVP on both sides of the ball while tallying 34 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals. His effort combined with those of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams and the OKC bench ensured that there would be no Indiana rally, or even a threat of one.
Gilgeous-Alexander and his fellow starters went to the bench with 2:42 remaining and the Thunder holding a 117-99 lead. The Pacers — who rallied from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to steal Game 1 — had waved the white flag.
“We used the opportunity to get better,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN of bouncing back from Game 1. “We’ve done a really good job of it all year. And last game was no different.
“Tonight was the same thing. We did some things good tonight, we did some things bad. We’ve got to be able to get better, get ready for Game 3.
Tyrese Haliburton fades in Game 2
Indiana’s playoff hero was nowhere to be found Sunday night. That is, until it was too late. Haliburton made just one field goal in the first half while scoring three points.
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When the third quarter ended, he had five points, three rebounds, four assists and three turnovers. By then, Oklahoma City held a 93-74 lead.
Indiana’s made it this far thanks to a historic penchant for mounting second-half rallies. But that’s not a strategy for winning games, and Sunday’s hole through three quarters proved too much for the Pacers to challenge.
Haliburton picked up his offense in the fourth quarter and finished with 17 points, three rebounds, six assists and five turnovers. But by then, it was too late. There was no Pacers rally Sunday, or even a scent of one.
The Thunder were in full control from midway through the second quarter and never let the Pacers back in the game.
Chet Holmgren bounces back
Chet Holmgren’s struggles in Game 1 played a big role in OKC’s blown lead. The third-year center scored six points while shooting just 2 of 9 from the field Thursday night, raising questions about whether the 23-year-old was ready for the NBA Finals stage.
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He responded with an assertive answer in Game 4. Holmgren led the Thunder in scoring with a nine-point first quarter while shooting 4 of 5 from the field and leading OKC to a 26-20. He was a factor on both sides of the ball and finished Game 2 with 15 points, six rebounds and one block. He shot 6 of 11 from the field.
Jalen Williams, whom the Thunder selected in the same draft as Holmgren, also struggled in Game 1 in a 6-of-19 shooting effort for 17 points. He finished Sunday with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Thunder have faced questions about their youth and postseason inexperience throughout the playoffs that surfaced again after Game 1. As they have each time before, they answered the bell Sunday to deter any notion that they’re a regular-season team.
OKC’s bench steps up
Oklahoma City’s depth has been one of its biggest strengths in its run to the NBA Finals.
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The bench was big again on Sunday, most notably Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins. OKC’s bench outscored Indiana’s, 48-33, and Caruso scored and Wiggins each scored more points than anyone on Indiana’s roster.
Caruso led the bench effort with 20 points and three rebounds while shooting 6 of 11 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point distance. Wiggins added 18 points and four rebounds while shooting 6 of 11 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3. He finished with a game-high plus-24 in the plus/minus column.
Oklahoma City’s collective Game 1 inefficiencies allowed the Pacers to mount a rally as the Thunder shot 39.8% from the field and couldn’t take advantage of a 98-82 advantage in field-goal attempts. OKC was much more efficient as a team on Sunday while shooting 48.8% from the field and 38.9% (14 of 36) from 3. Caruso and Wiggins were a big reason why.
