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Coming into Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the most obvious query was once how this younger Oklahoma City crew would reply to its fourth-quarter cave in in Game 1. Would the Thunder reply with a blowout as they did following Game 1 towards the Denver Nuggets? Or would they perhaps observe the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ and New York Knicks‘ lead, and make allowance the Indiana Pacers to scouse borrow but some other 2-0 lead at the street?
The ultimate scoreboard learn 123-107, however if truth be told, Sunday night time’s Game 2 was once determined a long way quicker. This was once exactly the reaction you would be expecting from a crew that has now spent the previous 8 months organising itself as a probably all-time nice squad.
The league’s Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, regarded love it in Game 2, bouncing again from a starring function in that Game 1 cave in with a stellar all-around efficiency. Chet Holmgren, who struggled within the sequence opener, instantly set the tone within the first quarter of Game 2, scoring 9 fast issues and making more than one have an effect on performs defensively.
Thunder trainer Mark Daigneault, who stuck some predictable (if additionally faulty) complaint for converting his beginning lineup in Game 1, caught with it in Game 2 whilst additionally making some refined — however efficient — adjustments, together with taking part in with each large males Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein at the court docket in combination and going clear of the mins for rookie guard Ajay Mitchell.
The Thunder as soon as once more throttled down the high-octane Pacers offense, fighting any Indiana participant from scoring 20 issues for a 2d consecutive sport. This was once a commanding efficiency — one that are meant to be anticipated from a crew that received 68 video games within the common season and outscored its warring parties via 12.7 issues in keeping with 100 possessions within the common season.
But the Pacers have spent all the postseason proving they can’t be counted out. Oklahoma City could have chilly stretches capturing the ball, because it did in the second one part of Game 1, and Indiana will indisputably be boosted via internet hosting its first Finals video games in 1 / 4 century later this week.
But on Sunday night time, the Thunder confirmed why they entered the Finals as decisive favorites. And, on this sequence’ largest second but, this younger staff had a particularly mature reaction. — Tim Bontemps
MVP SGA delivers for the Thunder’s offense
After Haliburton and the Pacers stole Game 1, Oklahoma City wanted its MVP to reply to. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered with the type of calm, managed dominance that has come to be anticipated of him.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 issues within the sequence opener, however he wanted 30 pictures to do it. His 34 issues in Game 2 got here along with his mechanically superb potency: 11-of-21 from the ground and 11-of-12 from the road.
It was once additionally an ideal passing efficiency via the famous person. Gilgeous-Alexander had 8 assists and quite a lot of different good passes out of double-teams that began stunning sequences of ball motion leading to open appears for teammates.
It’s exhausting to overcome the Thunder when Gilgeous-Alexander performs at this degree. — Tim MacMahon
1:28
SGA after Game 2 win: ‘Basketball is filled with united statesand downs’
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander displays on how the Thunder bounced again in Game 2 vs. the Pacers.
Pacers want Haliburton to search out his rhythm
The credit score is going to the Thunder protection as a result of Indiana’s offense struggled to discover a rhythm for lots of the sport. The Pacers scored simply 41 issues within the first part and shot 35% from the sphere — one in all their worst offensive performances of the postseason — hanging them in a deep deficit they could not climb out of this time. It’s no twist of fate the Pacers had been restricted on offense on a quiet night time from Haliburton, who scored 17 issues with six assists after hitting a couple of baskets within the fourth quarter. He additionally dedicated 5 turnovers, his maximum in any sport this season (common or postseason).
Haliburton hit the seize shot on the finish of Game 1, however the Thunder have executed a just right process of restricting his manufacturing within the sequence whilst retaining him to 31 issues mixed in two video games. As the sequence shifts to Indiana, the Pacers will wish to to find extra tactics to stay Haliburton enthusiastic about their offense, which is an important to that unit performing at its perfect attainable. — Jamal Collier
What to stay up for Game 3
Game 3: Thunder at Pacers (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Haliburton will face quite a lot of complaint main as much as Game 3; such is the load of a famous person. That highlight is warranted on account of Haliburton’s tepid performances via two video games.
But additionally it is price noting how a lot worse Indiana has performed with out its megastar level guard. In Game 1, the Pacers had been plus-12 with Haliburton at the court docket, however minus-11 with out him. In Game 2, they had been minus-5 when Haliburton performed, as opposed to minus-11 when he was once at the bench.
Through two video games, the Pacers are plus-7 in 73 mins with Haliburton and minus-22 in 23 mins with out him. That’s now not a successful method.
In Game 2, as an example, Oklahoma City led 21-20 when Haliburton exited for the primary time, with two mins left within the first quarter. By the time he re-entered halfway via the second one, the Thunder’s lead had grown to 40-27 — regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander additionally sitting for many of that extend. Indiana by no means lower the deficit to unmarried digits for the remainder of the sport.
So whilst Haliburton will have to build up his aggression and effectiveness for Indiana to have a possibility on this sequence, the Pacers additionally will have to prevent getting blown off the court docket when he rests. The Pacers’ intensity regarded robust within the Eastern Conference playoffs, in comparison to the shallower rosters in Milwaukee and New York, and the injured roster in Cleveland, nevertheless it pales compared to Oklahoma City’s bench.
Perhaps Pacers function avid gamers like Bennedict Mathurin will play higher at house, whilst the likes of Oklahoma City’s Aaron Wiggins (18 issues on 6-for-11 capturing in Game 2) combat at the street. Rick Carlisle may additionally stagger his rotation in order that extra of Indiana’s starters are at the court docket when Haliburton rests, as an alternative of turning to bench-heavy lineups that may’t stay alongside of the Thunder.
But the Pacers reached the Finals on account of a crew effort, now not simply on account of Haliburton’s heroics. They’ll want that whole crew to play higher, from Haliburton on down, in Game 3. — Zach Kram
2:05
Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Game Highlights
Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Game Highlights
For the primary 47 mins, 40 seconds of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander totally outplayed Tyrese Haliburton in a matchup of megastar level guards.
But as Pacers trainer Rick Carlisle mentioned after Indiana’s exceptional comeback to overcome the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals: It’s a 48-minute sport. And, in the ones ultimate 20 seconds Thursday night time, Haliburton and the Pacers modified the narrative … once more.
First, it was once Gilgeous-Alexander — who had 38 issues however was once 14-for-30 capturing — lacking a blank midrange jumper, his uniqueness, that may’ve given the Thunder a three-point lead with 10 seconds left. And then, it was once Haliburton once more taking part in the function of street spoiler, hitting a circus shot that may now not had been fairly as impressive as his high-bouncing miracle at Madison Square Garden on May 21. But, not like that shot, this shot received the sport for the Pacers in legislation.
As a end result, Indiana — which by no means led till Haliburton’s shot from simply within the 3-point arc dropped via with 0.3 seconds left — by hook or by crook left the Paycom Center with a 111-110 victory over the closely appreciated Thunder, and injected a large quantity of existence into this sequence.
For a lot of Game 1, the Thunder had been dictating the phrases of engagement. They pressured Indiana — in most cases nice at taking good care of the ball — right into a crew that was once flinging the ball all over for 24 turnovers, in comparison to handiest six for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder took 16 extra pictures than the Pacers, however the Pacers hit 18 3-pointers — together with 6-for-10 within the fourth quarter — and the Thunder, as they’re at risk of do, ignored a complete bunch of them (11-for-30). That allowed Indiana — a crew that has pulled off one exceptional comeback after some other in those playoffs — to search out itself in top place once more.
And, as he has such a lot of occasions in those playoffs, Haliburton delivered.
There are nonetheless quite a lot of causes to suppose Oklahoma City is the deserved favourite on this sequence. But the second one part of Thursday’s sport printed a blueprint: The Pacers took a long way higher care of the ball, and their high-octane offense took off. Oklahoma City, in the meantime, were given right into a rut offensively, and Gilgeous-Alexander had a few essential misses within the ultimate moments.
Because of it, as they did in each the Eastern Conference semifinals towards the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Eastern Conference finals in New York, the Pacers have claimed a Game 1 street victory.
And, consequently, we have now ourselves a chain. — Bontemps
The Thunder want 48 mins in their NBA-best protection, now not 24
The first part displayed the Thunder’s defensive fury at its greatest, forcing 19 turnovers whilst retaining the Pacers to 45 issues. But it did not hang up in the second one part.
Maybe it simply took the Pacers a few quarters to regulate to the Thunder’s defensive force, however Indiana regarded comfy after halftime, hanging up 66 issues in the second one part — 35 within the fourth quarter, punctuated via Haliburton’s successful shot — to drag off the dissatisfied.
Indiana additionally had handiest 5 turnovers in the second one part, taking part in their taste of fast paced, under-control offense. — MacMahon
A brand new information to some other ridiculous Pacers comeback: lower the turnovers
If this postseason has taught us the rest, it is that the Pacers can by no means be counted out. After trailing via 15 issues within the fourth quarter, Indiana stormed again to take Game 1 on but some other successful shot via Haliburton with 0.3 seconds final, the Pacers’ handiest lead.
It has turn out to be a chain staple for the Pacers all through this postseason run: a fourth-quarter Game 1 comeback that has demoralized each and every in their earlier 3 warring parties.
Indiana’s comeback this time was once fueled via its same old suspects, some seize 3-point pictures from Myles Turner, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith, and taking higher care of the ball after record-setting 19 turnovers within the first part.
And then, in fact, Haliburton hit some other large shot to seal the deal. — Collier
