NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder roars to tie the game at 1-1 against the Indiana Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who were beaten by the Indiana Pacers in the final seconds of Game 1, took a resounding 123-107 victory at home to tie the game at 1-1 in the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 8.
The best-of-seven series now moves to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Friday.
Still escorted by the fiery Paycom Center crowd, the Thunder this time offered a happy ending to its supporters, in the wake of its MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose statistics still lived up to his new status (34 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 block).
The Canadian MVP scored 72 points in his first two NBA Finals games, an unprecedented achievement. "SGA" didn't experience any lapses, multiplying successful mid-range shots and posing a constant threat, while also knowing how to distribute to his teammates.
As proof, besides "SGA" , four other players on his team scored 15 points or more (Alex Caruso, 20, Jalen Williams, 19, Aaron Wiggins, 18 and Chet Holmgren, 15), a first in the NBA finals since Toronto in 2019.
Tyrese Haliburton relatively discreetOn the other side, the Pacers were less adept from distance than in the first game (14 of 40 at 35% compared to 46% Thursday) and suffered when the starters were resting. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton, a terror of the end of games during these playoffs, was relatively discreet (17 points, 6 assists).
Unlike the first game, which saw Haliburton score the winning basket in the final second after a 15-point Pacers comeback, Indiana led slightly early in the game, but saw the Thunder fly away in the second quarter.
During this restart, some actions from Gilgeous-Alexander, long shots from Wiggins, and numerous turnovers from the Pacers helped the Thunder, who however conceded a 10-0 in the process, Indiana limiting the loss to 59-41 at the break.
In the third quarter, the Thunder maintained the lead thanks to the breakthroughs of "SGA" and the good connection between the two big Thunder interiors, Isaiah Hartenstein sending Chet Holmgren to dunk on an alley-oop.
The fourth quarter was perfectly controlled by the home team, whose goal nevertheless shook on a powerful one-handed dunk from Myles Turner, after a final long-range touch, and despite Hartenstein's counterattack attempt.
The World with AFP
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