Wafricnews - June 9, 2025

The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a thunderous response in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, dismantling the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday night to even the series at 1-1. The performance was powered by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose continued brilliance lit up Paycom Center and reasserted OKC's dominance on the championship stage.

After suffering a dramatic loss in the series opener, the Thunder turned frustration into fuel. With intensity on both ends of the floor, OKC pulled away in the second quarter behind a blistering 19-2 run, showcasing the kind of relentless energy that earned them the league’s top record this season.

Gilgeous-Alexander once again played the part of a superstar. The Canadian-Nigerian guard poured in 34 points with eight assists, bouncing back effortlessly from Thursday’s heartbreaker. It’s his debut Finals appearance, but he’s controlling games like a seasoned veteran.

“Basketball’s about staying steady,” SGA told ABC postgame. “You ride the waves, learn from every moment, and keep pushing. That’s what we did tonight.”

Off the bench, Alex Caruso brought grit and hustle, while Chet Holmgren redeemed himself with a solid showing, including a highlight dunk that helped ignite OKC’s second-quarter burst. Holmgren, who struggled in Game 1, made a statement with high-energy plays at both ends.

Indiana never recovered from OKC’s second-quarter onslaught. The Pacers were held to 33% shooting as the Thunder defense suffocated their rhythm. By halftime, Oklahoma City held an 18-point lead, built on sharp execution and dominance in the paint — outscoring Indiana 26-12 down low in the first half.

Though the Pacers showed flickers of life in the third quarter, they could never quite find their stride. Pascal Siakam and Miles Turner tried to rally the squad, but Indiana’s Game 1 hero, Tyrese Haliburton, was quiet through three quarters. He finished with 17 points — 12 of them coming in the fourth, long after the game had slipped away.

Haliburton’s struggles were largely thanks to the defensive prowess of Luguentz Dort, who shadowed him for much of the night and forced five turnovers.

“They’re dangerous in transition,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You’ve got to stop them early or you’ll be chasing shadows. We locked in.”

The Thunder's third-quarter control was the difference. Gilgeous-Alexander closed the period with 27 points, while teammates Jalen Williams, Caruso, Holmgren, and Aaron Wiggins all hit double figures by the start of the fourth. Unlike Game 1, this time OKC didn’t let up — they kept their foot on the gas, stretching the lead to over 20 as the crowd roared in approval.

Despite better ball control than in their turnover-plagued series opener, the Pacers simply couldn't find a shooting rhythm or solve OKC’s rebounding edge.

As the series heads to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday night, the Thunder aren’t letting this convincing win get to their heads.

“You can’t get too high or too low,” said SGA. “We recover, focus, and get better for the next one — that’s been our approach all year.”

Next Up: Game 3 tips off Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The battle continues — and momentum now wears Thunder blue.


Wafricnews Sports Desk.