By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Oklahoma City Thunder once again proved its resilience.
After a heartbreaking one-point loss in Game 1, the Thunder bounced back in style on Sunday night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 123-107 to even the NBA Finals at one game apiece.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points, reaching 3,000 combined points on the season and passing Jalen Brunson as the leading scorer in the playoffs.
Oklahoma City took control in the second quarter with a blistering 19-2 run that turned a tight game into a 23-point advantage. The Pacers responded briefly with a 10-0 stretch, but never seriously threatened again. Jalen Williams scored 19, Aaron Wiggins added 18, and Chet Holmgren chipped in with 15 for a Thunder team that looked locked in from start to finish.
Indiana, meanwhile, struggled to find consistent offense. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 17 points, while Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam added 16 and 15, respectively. For the second straight game, Indiana failed to produce a 20-point scorer—something not seen in the Finals since Miami in 2013.
The Thunder are now 18-2 following losses this season, including 12 double-digit wins. Game 3 shifts to Indianapolis on Wednesday, marking the first NBA Finals game in the city in 25 years.