Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Puts On a Clinic as Thunder Smash Pacers to Level NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t just bounce back in Game 2 of the NBA Finals—they roared back with a vengeance. Led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder dismantled the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday night to tie the series 1-1 and remind the world why they were the league’s most consistent force this season.

It was a masterclass in resilience and execution. After a heartbreaking loss in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander turned in a dazzling 34-point, 8-assist performance, once again proving he’s built for the biggest stages. The Kentucky-born guard followed up his 38-point outing in the opener with relentless offense and calm leadership. “We just used the opportunity to get better,” he told ABC postgame, sounding like a man with his eyes fixed on a championship.

The Thunder started slow, with early turnovers and nerves echoing Game 1, but once they settled, they unleashed a furious second-quarter run that broke Indiana’s spirit. A 19-2 stretch, capped by a highlight-reel dunk from Chet Holmgren, electrified the Paycom Center crowd and forced Indiana to call multiple timeouts in desperation. The lead ballooned to 23 points as OKC’s defense suffocated the Pacers’ high-powered attack.

Oklahoma City held Indiana to 34.9% shooting in the first half and completely shut down Tyrese Haliburton, the Game 1 hero. The Pacers guard, who drained the game-winner in the opener, had only three points deep into the third quarter and finished with a quiet 17—12 of which came in meaningless fourth-quarter minutes. Credit goes to Luguentz Dort, whose lockdown defense made life miserable for Haliburton all night.

Meanwhile, OKC’s role players stepped up in big ways. Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, and Jalen Williams all chipped in double figures, helping the Thunder maintain their energy and depth across all four quarters. Even Holmgren, who struggled in Game 1, rebounded with a strong outing and a statement dunk that signaled the shift in momentum.

By the time the fourth quarter began, the outcome was all but decided. The Thunder didn’t just hold the lead—they suffocated any hope of a comeback, dominating the boards and continuing to pile on the pressure.

As the series shifts to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4, the pressure now flips to Indiana. Despite their miraculous postseason run—knocking out top seeds and rallying from big deficits—the Pacers will need more than grit to overcome this OKC squad.

Head coach Rick Carlisle, who once led the Mavericks to a Finals upset over the Heat, knows the uphill battle they face. “We understand the magnitude of the opponent,” he said. “Oklahoma City has been dominant all year long.”

Dominant is an understatement. The Thunder’s blend of suffocating defense, depth, and star power—highlighted by the unstoppable Gilgeous-Alexander—makes them a formidable opponent, even for the most explosive offense in the league.

This series now becomes a test of contrast: OKC’s ironclad defense versus Indiana’s free-flowing offense. And unless the Pacers can find a way to break that defensive wall, the Larry O’Brien Trophy may soon find its way to Oklahoma.