Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his signature sport for the collection to this point – placing up 11 area aim and free throw makes apiece. Tyrese Haliburton struggled to make significant impression on the boxscore till effectively after the sport was determined, and Oklahoma Metropolis beat up Indiana 123-107 in Sport 2.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s AT&T males, Gilgeous-Alexander (34 factors, 8 assists, and 4 steals), Chet Holmgren (15 factors and 6 rebounds), and Jalen Williams (19 factors and 5 assists) outplayed their visiting counterparts tonight, and ensured that no comeback would happen. Alex Caruso (20 factors) and Aaron Wiggins (21 factors) – whereas taking pictures an similar 6-for-11 – helped catapult the Thunder the driving force’s seat within the first half.
Haliburton (17 factors and 6 assists) didn’t cross double digits till deep into the fourth quarter, whereas Pascal Siakam (15 factors and seven rebounds) additionally had a muted impression tonight – forcing the opposite Indiana rotation gamers to capably fill-in, which didn’t occur.
The well-played first quarter appeared like a continuation of Sport 1 – with a lot frenzied defensive exercise and the groups exchanging baskets and leads. Holmgren stood out most for the Thunder with heightened effort and outcomes on each ends, however particularly on offense. Isaiah Hartenstein, after Cason Wallace began once more, saved a number of possessions alive together with his starvation for caroms.
Indiana’s offense stalled out for the primary a part of the second interval, with pictures that weren’t essentially dangerous or pressured ones, however with many simply falling feebly off the rim. Oklahoma Metropolis capitalized to increase their result in as a lot as 21, whereas a great many Pacers pictures danced across the rim earlier than falling off. The second interval was the Aaron Wiggins’ quarter, as he hit a number of essential threes. When the skin pictures weren’t falling for OKC, MVP Gilgeous-Alexander labored his method by way of the paint for a handful of scores throughout their run. The Pacers cobbled collectively a 10-0 run however nonetheless discovered themselves in a 41-59 gap at halftime.
Indiana settled right into a nicer groove within the halfcourt to begin the third, however it was in the end for naught, as Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein once more got here in to assist disrupt issues in OKC’s favor. Gilgeous-Alexander put his stamp on this sport beginning with a steal and transition alternative late within the interval. His turnaround jumper on the left block put the Thunder up 20. Regardless of the Pacers’ effort to make it a ballgame, they left the third in the end down additional than they had been at halftime.
Observations
It’s been 11 years already, however this was Zach Lowe’s pre-finals article for Warmth/Spurs II.
I watched the vast majority of the sport on the “Above the Rim” digicam angle, and it felt like watching an NBA 2K sport. It additionally allowed me to not hear Richard Jefferson and Doris Burke. It additionally allowed a simple view into how a lot floor each groups coated of their dogged protection.
So, the tv manufacturing staff put digital trophies on the court docket to additional exhibit how cheaply ESPN/ABC treats such an necessary event just like the Finals.
It’s hokey as hell, however the OKC chants on offense are simply repeatable.
AT least on this sport, it was simpler to distinction Gilgeous-Alexander’s smoother driving capability versus Haliburton’s helter-skelter pacing.
Alex Caruso would have been a mighty Spur.
Kenrich Williams appears like an NBA 2K NPC (background character).
Sequence of the Sport #1: Late within the opening body, Obi Toppin tried to put a mushy floater up, which Holmgren swatted out of bounds.
Sequence of the Sport #2: Solely 70 seconds into the second interval, Jalen Williams banked dwelling a deft floater as a part of an and-1 of his personal to push the OKC benefit out to eight.
Sport Rundown
The groups exchanged baskets on the primary three possessions. Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton largely performed off ball. Lu Dort hit on his third three try and put OKC up 7-5. Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton related on their first makes an attempt moments later. The groups stayed inside one posesssion of one another over a number of minutes of the stanza. Present favourite for Unsung Participant or Secondary MVP Caruso hit a 3 that was answered by Benedict Mathurin. After Haliburton’s three eked Indiana forward, OKC closed the quarter out on a 9-0 run – Isaiah Joe’s reverse and Holmgren’s flurry of buckets standing out probably the most. The Pacers ended the primary down 20-26.
Wiggins’ spinning lay-up was answered by a TJ McConnell nook three to make an thrilling begin to the second. The Thunder pushed their result in ten, however a pair of Turner and Mathurin buckets sliced into it rapidly. Wiggins’ three made it 38-27. The feeble Pacers offense didn’t cross 30 till almost eight minutes by way of the second. Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a reasonably floater, and lived as much as his free throw incomes nickname the subsequent time down with an and-1. After some robust moments for the Pacers, they discovered themselves down 23. Indiana did mount a 10-run capped by a Aaron Nesmith three, however discovered themselves again down 18 after a transition three from Caruso. OKC went into the break comfortably forward.
The groups matched baskets over the primary handful of minutes of the third, and Indiana didn’t make a noticeable dent into their deficit. Every possession appeared fraught with titanic battles for the dear house across the perimeter and close to the basket. A Nesmith three closed the hole to 14. That momentum was short-lived as soon as Caruso, Hartenstein, and Wiggins re-entered sport motion. Oklahoma Metropolis primarily had the sport in hand as they went to the fourth up 93-74.
