Pacers 107 vs 123 Thunder Game 2 summary stats, scores and highlights | NBA Finals
We are heading back to Indiana with the series tied up at 1-1. Indy got one in OKC but now it's their turn to protect their home court. They have been dominated for the first two games of the series, but stole one in Game 1. Game 3 is at Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Aaron Wiggins stole the show. He came off the bench and lit it up from downtown. He ended the night with 18 points and hit 5/8 threes and provided that help that SGA and the rest of the starters were needing to see off the bench.
The big boys were on the floor for an extended amount of time. They are big, they are physical and they know how to play in the paint with each other. Hartenstein had just 3 points but had 8 rebounds and five assists and Holmgren had 15 in Game 2.
SGA was 14/30 in Game 1, he was 11/21 in Game 2. He shot less, was more efficient and had 8 assists to go along with his 5 rebounds. He came up with big shot after big shot to squash and sort of run the Pacers tried to build.
The lead crept up to 20 in the third quarter and stayed there for most of the night. Isaiah Hartenstein had a great game, despite coming off the bench. It was his hustle that set the tone for the team, and the Thunder followed suit.
Everyone else stepped up, but it was SGA making sure that he was going to be the one leading this team to a series evening win. He was the MVP all season, and he was the MVP in Game 2 when they needed him.
OKC didn't force Indy into a bunch of turnovers early on. They just played fantastic defense all night long, and really made it tough for Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers.
Chet Holmgren had a terrible debut in the NBA Finals in Game 1, but he came out aggressive making sure he wasn't going to have back to back bad games. He led all scorers after the first quarter with 9 points.
SGA had 38 in Game 1, but he needed some help from everyone else and he got it. Caruso was fantastic off the bench, which should come as no surprise. He's been doing that all season and all playoffs. In Game 2 he provided a huge spark off the bench.
The Oklahoma City Thunder let one slip away from them in Game 1 on Thursday. They made sure not to make the same mistake on Sunday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points and 8 assists in the comfortable win over the Indiana Pacers.
There was only one lead change in the series opener. In the first few minutes of Game 2 there were already four. It looked like we might have a tight game all night, but OKC made sure that wasn't going to happen.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
This series is tied at 1-1 heading to Indiana!
Johnson to the cup and he lays it up and in.
Williams sinks a three ball from the top of the key!
McConnell pulls up from inside the lane.
MItchell to the line after the foul on Johnson and he hits both FTs.
Sheppard in the corner and he hits the three ball!
Wiggins to the line after the foul on Johnson and he hits one of two FTs.
Mathurin was fouled on the 3 ball by Williams and he hits two of three FTs.
McConnell back to the rack and he lays it up and in.
Carso drills the three ball from the wing and he's got 20 points off the bench!
McConnell hurries down the court and he reverses it up and in.
SGA lays it up and in and gets the foul! FT is good after the foul on Mathurin.
Haliburton drills a three ball and the Thunder are going to need a timeout with 4:00 to go.
Mathurin forces his way through traffic and lays it up and in.
SGA to the line after the foul on Mathurin and he hits both FTs.
Matthurin with the pull up jumper in the lane and it's a 20 point game with 6:00 to go.
SGA on the step back from the elbow and that's money. That's 29 for SGA.
Mathurin to the line after the foul on Dort and he hits both FTs.
Wiggins from the wing and he strings another three ball! That's his fifth of the game!
Haliburton takes the three ball and makes the three ball! He's got 14, most in the last few minutes.
Williams to the line after the foul on Turner and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Pacers with 8:02 to go in the 4th quarter.
Haliburton got a free path to the bucket and slammed it home.
Williams off the dribble and he hits the mid range from the elbow.
Haliburton pulls up and hits the FT line jumper.
Caruso to the line after the foul on Siakam and he hits both FTs.
Haliburton with a floater from the elbow. That's 7 for him tonight.
Two offensive rebounds lead to an offensive rebound from Wiggins!
Turner down the lane and he unleashes a vicious dunk!
Dump off from Wiggins to Hartenstein who lays it up and in.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER WITH THE TUNDER UP 19!!!
Holmgren to the line after the foul on Nesmith and he hits both FTs.
Mathurin to the line after the foul on Wiggins and he splits the two FTs.
Hartenstein lobbing it up for Holmgren on the baseline alley oop!
Bryant to the line after the foul on SGA and he hits one of two FTs.
Nesmith drills a three ball and he rattles it home! He's got 4 on the night!
Caruso to the line after the foul on Nesmith and he hits both FTs.
McConnell off the dribble and he hits the mid range jumper.
SGA spins, turns and fades on the baseline on the mid range jumper.
SGA back to the line and he hits both FTs.
Nesmith with a catch and release from the wing and he strings the three!
SGA back at the line and he hits the second FT.
SGA to the line after the foul on Toppin and SGA hits one FT before IND take a timeout with 3:32 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Williams to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Sheppard.
Haliburton with a baseline floater and he's got just 5 points on the night.
Siakam to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits both FTs.
Wiggins with a three ball, his third of the game, and this one from the wing! He's got 11 points in 9 minutes!
Siakam to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits both FTs.
SGA pulls up from behind the FT line and he gets the middy to fall.
Turner from the FT line and he hits the jumper.
Caruso drills a three ball in the corner and he's got 13 in 13 minutes!
Hartenstiein finds Caruso slipping back door for the baseline lay up.
Turner with a jump pass at the top of the key to a wide open Nembhard down lay for the lay up.
Williams to the line after the foul on Nesmith and he hits one of two Fts.
Nesmith drops a three ball from the top of the key off the Siakam dish!
Timeout OKC with 7:36 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Siakam to the line after the foul on Williams and he hits both FTs.
SGA to the line after the foul on Nembhard and he hits both FTs.
Tuner with a three ball and he's got all of the Pacers points.
SGA steps back and hits the mid range jumper for his first points of the half.
Walker into the lane and he floats it up and over the defenders down low .
Turner to the line after the foul on Holmgren and he hits both FTs.
Williams in the corner and he nails the three ball in the corner off the SGA kick out!
Turner with the mid range jumper and he's got three early points in the third quarter.
Turner to the line after the foul on Holmgren and he hits one of two FTs.
WE ARE BACK IN OKC FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!
That was a huge run from OKC who outscored IND 19-2 int he final minutes of the quarter. They have the lead, but the question is, can they keep it?
SGA has 15 points off 6/11 shooting. Nothing looks forced. Nothing looks rushed. He's in control, and his teammates are pitching in.
Holmgren had a rough Game 1, but came out swinging in the opening quarter. He had 9 points and had the Thunder rolling into the second quarter.
Haliburton is having another rough night from the field, with just 3 points and just three assists. One of those went to Obi Toppin but the offense has struggled tonight against OKC.
We talked about the Thunder needing everyone to step up and not just SGA. So far that's been the case.
There was just one lead change in Game 1, but in the first few minutes there were already four. It looked like this was going to be a closer game, but OKC has pulled away over the last quarter.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF!!!
The Thunder pulled away in that second quarter.
Nembhard to the line after the foul on Wallace and he hits one of two FTs.
Williams jets down the lane and lays it up with one hand.
Siakam to the line after the foul on Wallace and he hits one of two FTs.
Caruso with a three ball off the feed from SGA and he hits it from the top of the key!
SGA goes to the rack after the timeout and he lays it up off the glass.
Nesmith in the corner and he drills a three ball!
Timeout quick points from IND and OKC need a timeout with 2:40 to go in the first quarter.
Siakam slices to the bucket and lays it up off the bank.
Siakam diving through the lane and he lays it up and gets the foul!!! FT is good after the foul on Williams.
Nembhard going right to the rack and lays it up and in off the turnover from OKC.
SGA ignites this place, getting to the bucket and he reverses it off the glass and the Pacers need a timeout with under 5:00 to go in the half!!
Wiggins strokes the three ball on the step back from the wing and the lead it up to 21!!!
SGA slicing through the lane, laid it up and got the foul! FT is good after the foul on Mathurin.
SGA on the step back and he knocks it down from the FT line.
Nesmith goes to the bucket out of the timeout and hits a tough runner from outside the lane.
Holmgren was wide open down low and Williams found him for the slam!
IT's a 9-0 run and the Pacers need a timeout with 7:06 to go.
Williams to the line after the foul on McConnell and he hits both FTs.
Wiggins off the step back and he hits the three from the wing over Toppin!
Williams pulls up behind the FT line and he drills it.
Timeout Pacers with 8:49 to go in the first half.
McConnell running the break and he dumps it off for Mathurin for the lay up.
Turner in traffic down low and he lays it up and over Hartenstein.
Caruso slashes to the bucket and lays it up and in on the break.
Williams drives down the lane, leaps, lays it up and finger rolls it in, and gets the foul on McConnell. FT is good.
McCollum was invited to take the three in the corner and he knocks it down.
Wiggins off the bench, spinning in the lane and hanging it high off the glass.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE THUNDER LEAD BY 6 AFTER A 9-0 RUN TO END THE QUARTER.
Holmgren has 9, SGA has 6. Nemhbard leads the Pacers with 6.
Holmgren drives from the corner, and the Thunder are on a 9-0 run after the lay up by the big man for the final bucket of the quarter.
Holmgren with another deep ball, this time is foot was behind the line on the three pointer!
Holmgren pulls up and hits the deep two from the wing.
Back door cut from Joe and Hartenstein found him for the reverse lay up.
Haliburton with a triple try from the top of the key, that's his first three of the night.
Timeout Pacers with 3:12 left in the first quarter.
Toppin off the bench and he sinks a three ball, his first of the game after having a fantastic game in the opener.
Hartenstein to the line after the foul on Bryant and he hits one of two FTs.
Mathurin answers back with a three ball from the corner off the kickout from Haliburton!
Caruso off the bench and on the scorebaord with a three ball in the corner off the feed from Hartenstein!
Mathurin sends SGA to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
Nembhard to the line after the foul on Wallace and he hits one of two FTs.
WE ARE HEADING TO OUR FIRST TIMEOUT HERE FROM OKC WITH 6::40 TO GO
Nembhard answers back with a three ball off the Haliburton dish!
Williams kicks to the corner and he finds SGA with a three ball!
Turner with the spot up from outside the lane and he banks it in.
SGA with his first bucket of the night off the drive and pull up in the paint.
Dort with a rebound on one end and a three ball from th wing on the other!!
Step back from Nembhard and he hits it from outside the lane.
Holmgren with the offensive board and put back after missing the lay up.
Siakam opens up the Pacers account with a deep ball from the top of the key!
Wallace into the lane and he lays it up and in for the first bucket of the night.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM OKC!!!
Pacers starters
The starting five will look for a much better start to tonight than they had in Game 1. IT's going to be up to Haliburton, Turner, Nembhard, Nesmith and Siakam to tip off from OKC.
Thunder starters
Well, it was a surprise in Game 1, and Game 2 is no different. OKC is going with Cason Wallace again tonight over Isaiah Hartensteiin. It's Wallace, SGA, Dort, Williams and Holmgren to start Game 2 tonight.
Hali's best moment
This has been a memorable run for the Pacers, and there have been a lot of unforgettable moments. Tyrese Haliburton has had a handful of them, and that's why it's so hard for his teammates to decide what their favorite Hali-moment has been.
Nembhard's big shot
Andrew Nembhard has been instrumental in the Pacers playoff run, but he hit the biggest shot of his lift in the final seconds of last game. Without this shot there would be no Haliburton game winner. The best part of it, he did it over his friend and countryman SGA.
Injury report: Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have kept pretty clean on the injury report this postseason. The only one they have listed in Jarace Wallace who sprained his ankle in Game six against the Knicks, and has been ruled out for at least another night. Other than that the Pacers are playing with a full deck of cards and then will need them to get a second straight win in OKC.
Injury report: Thunder
The Thunder have been the healthiest team in the playoffs this year and that is a big reason they are where they are tonight. They have a full squad at hand today, and will look to keep it that way throughout the series. There is no limitation for this team. That means there are no excuses. It’s time to deliver a win in front of their fans if they want to avoid finding themselves in an 0-2 hold.
Hartenstein starts on the bench in Game 1
It was a surprising decision to say the least. Coach Dagenault started Cason Wallace in Game 1, which was something that we really hadn’t seen all postssason. It’s usually Hartenstein who is in the first five and that does a couple things. It brings a big, tough squad to the court out of the gate and it also gives Holmgren a little more room to work in the paint. With another big man down low Chet can penetrate, lay it off, lob it up of slam it down and that wasn’t the case for really any of the game on Thursday. Tonight we will have to see if the OKC coach wants to risk putting Wallace in the starting five again.
The OKC other guys
We talked about a little while ago. The Thunder can’t just rely on SGA to carry them. They need their other guys. Primarily Jalen Williams who had 17 points on 6/19 shooting. Chet Holmgren really struggled to get himself into the game, scoring just 6 points on 2/9 field goals. Dort hit five threes, but he was the only other starter who had a good game on the offensive end. We will see who takes the stage and shares the spotlight with the MVP of the NBA, SGA.
Thunder clap
Beating the Thunder hasn’t been an easy task this season. They lost just 14 games all season long and lost only 6 games at home. They have treated their Paycom Center fans well this season, and the fans have returned the favor. In the playoffs they have lost twice at home. The game on Thursday was their first lost since Game 1 when they lost on a late three ball from Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nuggets. They bounce back every time. They haven’t lost back to back home games all season, and that is what they will have to avoid tonight if they want to avoid digging themselves an nearly impossible hole to climb out of.
How Indy follows up Game 1 wins
Don’t just think that the Pacers are going to bow out of this game after grabbing one on the road and taking home court advantage. That’s not their style. They won each and every one of their Game 1s in the first three rounds of the playoffs, but then they followed it up with another win. They beat the Bucks in Game 2 at home and then didn’t just stun the Cavs once, they did it twice. They went into New York and took down the Knicks at MSG in both of the opening games. Don’t expect them to just lay over tonight against the Thunder. They are coming into this game to win it.
Ty-me after time
I don’t care how many times Tyrese Haliburton hits game winning shots, it’s never going to get old. He did it in the opening round series against the Bucks. He did it with a missed FT and three ball to win a game against the Cavs. He did it in Game 1 with that dramatic buzzer beater that sent the game to OT, and he did it again in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. How many more tricks up his sleeve does he have? How many more rabbits can he pull out of the hat? The Thunder know, no lead is safe with Haliburton on the other side of the court. If the game is tight late, you know who the ball is going to for Indy. The question is can OKC stop him?
Star watch: Thunder
There wasn’t much more SGA could have done in the game on Thursday night. He was incredible in his first Finals game, which before tip off he admitted to having some nerves heading into the game. How did he handle that pressure and those nerves? He scored 38 points, shooting 14 of 30 from the field. If anything, last game proved he can’t do it all on his own. He’s going to have to play at a MVP level, but he is also going to need his teammates to show up tonight.
Star watch: Pacers
What else can you say about this kid. He has done everything right over the last few years, and still never gets the respect he deserves. Remember he didn’t play any with the USA team in Paris at the Olympics. Then he was named the league’s most overrated player by his peers. What has he done? Win game after game after game. He has been the MVP of the playoffs with his spectacular play and game winning shots. The Pacers are up a game because of his heroics and they will lean on him to try and steal another one before returning home.
Game 1 recap
It looked like it was going to be a wire to wire win for the Thunder in Game 1 from OKC. They got up early and held the lead for the entire game. They never were able to land the knock out punch and the Pacers kept staying within striking distance. Indy turned the ball over a season high 19 times in the first half, but the Thunder still couldn’t punish them. That could end up costing them in the final seconds of the game. SGA had a chance to ice the game after dropping 38 points, but missed a shot with 6 seconds to go and Tyrese Haliburton made magic again. He dribbled to the elbow and put up a shot that put the Pacers up for the first time all night with 0.3 seconds left to give Indy a 1-0 lead.
We are live from Paycom Center
Hello everyone and welcome to Oklahoma City where the Thunder are looking to rebound after a rare home loss. This is a team that didn’t lose many games in the regular season and even fewer at home. They had their hearts broken at the end of last game and tonight they look to pick up the pieces and even up the series against an Indiana Pacers team that pulled off another miracle to start a series this postseason. Tonight the Pacers have a chance to take a commanding series back to Indy, but the Thunder have other ideas.
Pacers vs. Thunder at home
It’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals from Oklahoma City. One team dominated all night, but they weren’t the team that won the opening game of the series. The team that won only lead the game for 0.3 seconds, but that was enough to take Game 1 on the road. Tonight the Oklahoma Thunder look to draw even in the series after the Indiana Pacers stole one on the road on Thursday night. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s Game 2 from Paycom Center.