Thunder Find Their Groove and Level the Finals
Energy was never in short supply inside the Paycom Center, but even the most passionate Oklahoma City fans couldn’t have dreamed just how locked in the Thunder would be for Game 2. After letting Game 1 slip, the Thunder set the tone early and never let up, cruising to a Thunder 123-107 win to knot up the NBA Finals at one game each. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reminded everyone why he’s an MVP finalist, pouring in 34 points with his trademark smooth drives and surgical midrange game. Whenever the Pacers made a push, Shai found answers—either with buckets or pinpoint passes to slicing teammates.
This night, though, wasn’t just about the stars. Alex Caruso came off the bench like a man playing for a new contract, igniting the second unit with 20 points. His driving layups, timely threes, and pesky defense gave OKC control every time Indiana threatened. Jalen Williams (19 points) and Aaron Wiggins (18) kept the scoreboard ticking, while Chet Holmgren found his groove inside, chipping in 15 crucial points and protecting the paint.
Pacers Struggle to Match Thunder’s Pace
The Pacers, who stole Game 1 on the back of big shots and resilience, just couldn’t solve the Thunder defense this time. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 17 points, often hounded by Caruso and Williams, and couldn’t find his rhythm from long-range. Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam had flashes—Turner knocked down pick-and-pop jumpers and Siakam slashed to the rim—but neither got rolling consistently against OKC’s aggressive switching and length.
This win felt meaningful for Oklahoma City. It wasn’t just their first NBA Finals victory since Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden graced this stage back in 2012; it was a grown-up statement from a young core that’s matured before our eyes. The Thunder rejected talk of inexperience, coming out assertive on both ends and seizing the kind of Finals poise that’s usually reserved for past champions.
With the series now shifting to Indianapolis for Game 3 on June 11, there’s a sense of urgency on both sides. The Thunder maintain home-court edge as the West’s top seed, but the Pacers are unbowed—they’re still chasing their first-ever NBA title and can feed off their raucous home crowd. Neither team has hoisted a banner since OKC moved from Seattle or Indiana joined the NBA. So, every game brings weight, history, and the chance to carve their name into basketball lore. The series is wide open—and far from over.
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