Thunder Respond in Style, Level Series with Dominant Game 2
The Oklahoma City Thunder sent a message to anyone doubting their Finals credentials. They didn’t just win Game 2—they overwhelmed the Pacers from buzzer to buzzer. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone right away, slicing through Indiana’s defense for Thunder highs of 34 points, while showing off his ability to run the offense with eight assists and five rebounds. The 123-107 scoreline barely even tells the story of how thoroughly OKC controlled the night.
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City’s midseason pickup, showed what he was brought in for: big-game bench performances. He hit four threes and dropped 20 points, leaving the Pacers scrambling to find answers whenever he checked in. Every time Indiana seemed close to a run, it was guys like Caruso, Jalen Williams (19 points), Aaron Wiggins (18), and rookie Chet Holmgren (15) stepping up. The Thunder bench didn't just keep leads intact—they stretched them.
If you’re wondering when the Pacers found their rhythm, the answer is: they never really did. Indiana shot an ugly 35% in the first half and trailed by as much as 18 by halftime. Tyrese Haliburton, who’s been the Pacers’ engine all postseason, couldn’t get free. By halftime, he only had three points and already looked rattled from the Thunder’s rotating defenders harassing him at the point of attack. He wound up with 17 points and six assists, but a career-high five turnovers haunted his stat line. Postgame, Haliburton didn’t hide the frustration: 'They got a lot of different guys who can guard the ball... I just got to figure out how to be better earlier in games.' It didn’t help that he walked gingerly afterward, hinting at a lingering issue even as the series shifts to Indianapolis.
Myles Turner (16 points) and Pascal Siakam (15) did their best to keep Indiana within reach, but the Pacers just couldn’t break out of the mud in important stretches. With all their starters bottled up, Indiana’s bench was also outclassed—making it the first time since 2013 that no Pacer cracked the 20-point mark in either of the Finals' first two games. And the mistakes piled up: 19 turnovers throughout the contest gave the Thunder all the momentum they needed.
Game 3: Back to Indiana After 25 Years and a Lot to Prove
The good news for Pacers fans? The series is far from over, and Game 3 returns to Indianapolis for the city’s first NBA Finals matchup since the Reggie Miller era. That crowd will be loud, desperate, and maybe exactly what Indiana needs to shake its flat start. Having split the first two games, both teams know a pivotal swing awaits. The Thunder still preach improvement—defensive grit has been their calling card, but they know road games come with a different kind of pressure.
As for the Pacers, all eyes are on Haliburton’s health and potential adjustments. They’ve come back from rough games before. But against this deep, relentless Thunder crew, they’re going to need to find answers fast—or risk going down big on their home floor with history and expectations both weighing heavy.
