The Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0) made history by winning their first two games of the season—both in double overtime—after taking down the Indiana Pacers (0-1) with an intense 141-135 win on October 24.
Here are the key stats and the top performers from the game.
BEST PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC PG 55 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST | 79.1 FPS
SGA recorded his fifth career 50-point game and set a new career high in scoring, highlighted by an outstanding 23-for-26 performance from the line. He continues to impact the game in multiple areas, posting solid numbers across four other major categories. However, his outside shooting remains a weakness, going 3-for-16 from deep in his first two games.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE:
Pascal Siakam IND PF 32 PTS | 15 REB | 4 AST | 58.0 FPS
Siakam came up big in the team’s first game of the season, leading the way in both field goals made and rebounds. Last season, he recorded four 30-point performances and twelve games with double-digit rebounds.
SCORING LEADERS:
Ajay Mitchell OKC SG 26 PTS | 9-19 FG | 8-8 FT | 37.6 FPS
Mitchell provided a strong offensive spark off the bench. He’s averaging 21 points through his first two games of the season.
Benedict Mathurin IND SF 36 PTS | 3-8 3PT | 15-17 FT | 46.7 FPS
Mathurin sparked the Pacers’ offense in the second half with 23 points. He also was very efficient at the line, hitting 15 of his 17 free-throws. Last playoffs, he has proven himself as a scorer, recording five 20-point games off the bench.
STAT SPECIALIST:
Isaiah Hartenstein OKC C 5 PTS | 14 REB | 2 AST | 22.8 FPS
Hartenstein made his presence felt in the paint. Last season, he also led the team in rebounding with 10.7 rebounds per game. Despite that, foul trouble has been an issue, as he has already committed 11 fouls in his first two games.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT:
Ben Sheppard IND SG 8 REB | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 36.6 FPS
Sheppard missed a couple of preseason games due to undisclosed reasons, but he came up strong on both ends of the floor today. With the team also dealing with several injuries, he’s expected to continue playing a key role off the bench for the Pacers.
THE SHARPSHOOTER:
Aaron Wiggins OKC SG 23 PTS | 5-9 3PT | 9 REB | 35.8 FPS
Wiggins finished with an outstanding performance from three. Last season, he averaged 1.7 threes per game on 38.3% shooting.
THE X-FACTOR:
Obi Toppin IND PF 20 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL | 35.5 FPS
Toppin stepped up for the shorthanded Pacers but struggled from three, missing all eight of his attempts. Last season, he was a consistent contributor off the bench, averaging 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Jarace Walker IND PF 13 PTS | 4 REB | 4 AST | 24.8 FPS
Walker continues to make a strong impact off the bench. He averaged 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in three preseason games.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GAME:
Andrew Nembhard IND SG 4 PTS | 1 REB | 4 AST
Nembhard had difficulty finding his offense, missing all five of his attempts in the first half before exiting the game due to shoulder soreness.
