Thunder Rebound with Dominating Performance in Game 2 to Even Series 1-1
In a thrilling matchup, the Oklahoma City Thunder rebounded from their Game 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers with a dominating 123-107 victory in Game 2, tying the series 1-1. According to USA Today, the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a game-high 34 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals.
The Thunder’s bench outscored Indiana’s 48-34, with Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso combining for nine of the Thunder’s 14 3-pointers. Chet Holmgren scored 15 points, more than doubling his six points in Game 1, while Jalen Williams had 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
USA Today reports that the Thunder’s top-ranked defense limited Indiana’s high-paced offense and quieted Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton’s playmaking, holding him to 17 points and six assists. The Thunder’s physical, handsy, and persistent defense made the difference, as they limited Indiana to 38.7% shooting from the field.
The series now shifts to Indianapolis, with Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. According to USA Today, teams that win Game 3 of a 1-1 Finals series have gone on to win the series 80.5% of the time.
The Thunder’s victory avoided them becoming the third team in Finals history to lose the first two games at home. The Pacers, who have five comebacks this postseason in games in which they faced a deficit of at least 15 points, find themselves down 19 heading into the fourth quarter.
As reported by USA Today, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the importance of adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of the game, saying, “We just get ourselves to neutral – understand every game is different, every game is unwritten.”
The Pacers’ Haliburton had a slow start, scoring just five points on 2-of-7 shooting, while his teammate Andrew Nembhard led the team with nine points. The Thunder’s Holmgren had a solid game with 11 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with 15 points.
In related news, ESPN NBA sideline reporter Lisa Salters missed ABC’s broadcast of Game 2 due to a personal matter, as her mother is dealing with serious health issues.
As noted by USA Today, the 2025 NBA Finals is a celebration of the point guard, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton leading their respective teams. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, and Haliburton, the pass-first point guard with a penchant for clutch shooting, are redefining the image of the point guard in the modern NBA.
The Thunder are favored to even the series 1-1, according to BetMGM, with odds of -10.5 and a moneyline of -625. The series winner is also favored to be the Thunder, with odds of -350.
All of the NBA experts at USA Today Sports picked the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, with most predicting a six-game series. The Thunder’s dominating performance in Game 2 has set the stage for an exciting Game 3 in Indianapolis.
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