The Oklahoma City Thunder broke the game wide open with a massive second-quarter rally and cruised to a commanding 123-107 win against the Indiana Pacers, tying the NBA Finals series at 1-1 on June 9.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Tyrese Haliburton 17 PTS | 6 AST | 2 STL | 36.6 FPS
Haliburton had a poor first half in Game 1 and was even worse today, scoring just 3 points. But he found a rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points—including nine straight—but by then, the game was already out of reach, with the Pacers trailing by 20 or more. The Thunder have done an excellent job defensively, containing him and forcing him into 4 turnovers per game. However, Haliburton has had up-and-down performances in this playoff run, and he usually delivers a different game after. In Game 4 at home against the Knicks, he nearly had a triple-double in just the first half and could possibly do that again in this series.
Andrew Nembhard 11 PTS | 4 AST | 3 STL | 29.8 FPS
Nembhard got off to a solid start in the first half, doing a bit of everything on the floor. However, he struggled to maintain that same energy and impact in the second half. While he hasn’t been much of a factor offensively this postseason, he’s remained an important asset with his defense and contributions in multiple areas.
TJ McConnell 11 PTS | 6 AST | 2 STL | 29.6 FPS
McConnell has consistently provided a solid boost from the bench in the finals with his efficient shooting and sharp playmaking. His two games against the Thunder this season were similarly impactful, and he should have no problem continuing his strong play at home.
Myles Turner 16 PTS | 4 REB | 4 AST | 23.8 FPS
Turner had a strong Finals debut, contributing solidly on both offense and rebounding. He carried that momentum into Game 2, scoring 10 points in the third quarter, though his impact on the boards was limited. The team will need him to do a better job in the interior in Game 3 after the Thunder got a +8 rebounding and +8 points in the paint advantage.
Aaron Nesmith 14 PTS | 4 3PM | 4 REB | 18.8 FPS
Nesmith started slow but picked up his game in the third, knocking down 3 three-pointers. He’s been their most productive perimeter shooter so far in this series, shooting at 46.7%. But they’ll need more from him on offense if they want to remain in control of the series in Game 3.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 34 PTS | 8 REB | 4 STL | 65.0 FPS
SGA has unquestionably been the best player in this series. He was a steady force on offense, scoring 9 points in the second quarter and adding 12 more in the third, finishing with his 13th 30-point game this playoffs. He also reached another milestone, becoming just the 12th player in NBA history to record at least 3,000 points in a single season. Defensively, he’s been just as impactful, averaging 3.5 steals in this matchup. With the way he’s playing, another big performance in Game 3 seems all but inevitable.
Jalen Williams 19 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 33.5 FPS
JDub hasn’t been at his best offensively in this series, but he’s still managed to put up at least 17 points while going 12-for-13 from the line over the last two games. Despite this, he’s contributed steadily in other areas while playing solid defense. That said, it’s hard to see them pulling out a win in Game 3 unless he finds his rhythm and scores 20 or more on the road.
Aaron Wiggins 18 PTS | 5 3PM | 4 REB | 26.3 FPS
Wiggins was a big factor on offense, scoring 8 points to help his team pull away with a furious 19-2 run in the second quarter. Performances like this are well within his capabilities—he went 8-for-13 from three against Memphis and dropped 40 points on 6 threes against the Kings earlier in the season.
Chet Holmgren 15 PTS | 6 REB | 1 BLK | 24.7 FPS
Holmgren didn’t have much of an impact in Game 1 but started strong today with 9 points on 4-for-5 shooting in the first quarter. He’s been less productive in the box score in this series, but he remains a threat for big performances with his two-way play, averaging 2 blocks and recording five 20-point games in their first three matchups.
Alex Caruso 20 PTS | 4 3PM | 3 REB | 23.1 FPS
Caruso’s defense was absent from the stat sheet after a huge performance in Game 1, but he turned it up on offense with another 20-point playoff performance. He’s been a quietly reliable shooter, averaging above 40% from three this postseason.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Pascal Siakam 15 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK
Siakam delivered a solid all-around performance in the last two games, but his efficiency isn’t ideal. Despite that, he should be poised for a better scoring effort in Games 3 and 4—he’s scored 30+ points in each of his last two home games.
