Coming into Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals, the plain query was how this younger Oklahoma Metropolis crew would reply to its fourth-quarter collapse in Recreation 1. Would the Thunder reply with a blowout as they did following Recreation 1 in opposition to the Denver Nuggets? Or would they presumably comply with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ and New York Knicks’ instance, and permit the Indiana Pacers to steal one more 2-0 lead on the street?
The ultimate scoreboard learn 123-107, however in actuality, Sunday night time’s Recreation 2 was determined far sooner. This was exactly the response you’d anticipate from a crew that has now spent the previous eight months establishing itself as a probably all-time nice squad.
The league’s Most Invaluable Participant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, regarded prefer it in Recreation 2, bouncing again from a starring position in that Recreation 1 collapse with a stellar all-around efficiency. Chet Holmgren, who struggled within the sequence opener, instantly set the tone within the first quarter of Recreation 2, scoring 9 fast factors and making a number of affect performs defensively.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, who caught some predictable (if additionally misguided) criticism for altering his beginning lineup in Recreation 1, caught with it in Recreation 2 whereas additionally making some delicate — however efficient — adjustments, together with enjoying each huge males, Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, on the courtroom collectively and going away from the minutes for rookie guard Ajay Mitchell.
The Thunder as soon as once more throttled the high-octane Pacers offense, stopping any Indiana participant from scoring 20 factors for a second consecutive sport. This was a commanding efficiency — one which must be anticipated from a crew that gained 68 video games and outscored its opponents by 12.7 factors per 100 possessions within the common season.
However the Pacers have spent your complete postseason proving they can’t be counted out. Oklahoma Metropolis can have chilly stretches taking pictures the ball, because it did within the second half of Recreation 1, and Indiana will definitely be boosted by internet hosting its first Finals video games in 1 / 4 century later this week.
However on Sunday night time, the Thunder confirmed why they entered the Finals as decisive favorites. And, on this sequence’ largest second but, this younger group had a particularly mature response. — Tim Bontemps
MVP SGA delivers for the Thunder’s offense
After Haliburton and the Pacers stole Recreation 1, Oklahoma Metropolis wanted its MVP to reply. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered with the form of calm, managed dominance that has come to be anticipated of him.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 factors within the sequence opener, however he wanted 30 pictures to do it. His 34 factors in Recreation 2 got here along with his routinely wonderful effectivity: 11-of-21 from the ground and 11-of-12 from the road.
It was additionally a terrific passing efficiency by the celebrity. Gilgeous-Alexander had eight assists and loads of different good passes out of double-teams that began lovely sequences of ball motion which resulted in open appears to be like for teammates.
It is laborious to beat the Thunder when Gilgeous-Alexander performs at this degree. — Tim MacMahon
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SGA after Recreation 2 win: ‘Basketball is stuffed with ups and downs’
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander displays on how the Thunder bounced again in Recreation 2 vs. the Pacers.
Pacers want Haliburton to seek out his rhythm
The credit score goes to the Thunder’s protection as a result of Indiana’s offense struggled to discover a rhythm for many of the sport. The Pacers scored simply 41 factors within the first half and shot 35% from the sphere — one in every of their worst offensive performances of the postseason — placing them in a deep deficit they could not climb out of this time. It is no coincidence the Pacers have been restricted on offense on a quiet night time from Haliburton, who scored 17 factors with six assists after hitting a couple of baskets within the fourth quarter. He additionally dedicated 5 turnovers, his most in any sport this season (common or postseason).
Haliburton hit the clutch shot on the finish of Recreation 1, however the Thunder have performed job of limiting his manufacturing within the sequence whereas holding him to 31 factors mixed in two video games. Because the sequence shifts to Indiana, the Pacers might want to discover extra methods to maintain Haliburton concerned of their offense, which is essential to that unit performing at its highest potential. — Jamal Collier
What to look at for Recreation 3
Recreation 3: Thunder at Pacers (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Haliburton will face loads of criticism main as much as Recreation 3, such is the burden of a celebrity. That highlight is warranted due to Haliburton’s tepid performances via two video games.
But it surely’s additionally price noting how a lot worse Indiana has performed with out its star level guard. In Recreation 1, the Pacers have been plus-12 with Haliburton on the courtroom however minus-11 with out him. In Recreation 2, they have been minus-5 when Haliburton performed versus minus-11 when he was on the bench.
By two video games, the Pacers are plus-7 in 73 minutes with Haliburton and minus-22 in 23 minutes with out him. That is not a successful system.
In Recreation 2, as an illustration, Oklahoma Metropolis led 21-20 when Haliburton exited for the primary time, with two minutes left within the first quarter. By the point he reentered halfway via the second, the Thunder’s lead had grown to 40-27 — regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander additionally sitting for many of that stretch. Indiana by no means minimize the deficit to single digits for the remainder of the sport.
So, whereas Haliburton should enhance his aggression and effectiveness for Indiana to have an opportunity on this sequence, the Pacers additionally should cease getting blown off the courtroom when he rests. The Pacers’ depth regarded sturdy within the Jap Convention playoffs in comparison with the shallower rosters in Milwaukee and New York and the injured roster in Cleveland, however it pales compared to Oklahoma Metropolis’s bench.
Maybe Pacers position gamers like Bennedict Mathurin will play higher at house whereas the likes of Oklahoma Metropolis’s Aaron Wiggins (18 factors on 6-for-11 taking pictures in Recreation 2) wrestle on the street. Rick Carlisle may additionally stagger his rotation in order that extra of Indiana’s starters are on the courtroom when Haliburton rests, as a substitute of turning to bench-heavy lineups that may’t sustain with the Thunder.
However the Pacers reached the Finals due to a crew effort, not simply due to Haliburton’s heroics. They’re going to want that complete crew to play higher, from Haliburton on down, in Recreation 3. — Zach Kram
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Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Recreation Highlights
Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Recreation Highlights
For the primary 47 minutes, 40 seconds of Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander completely outplayed Tyrese Haliburton in a matchup of star level guards.
However as Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned after Indiana’s outstanding comeback to beat the New York Knicks in Recreation 1 of the Jap Convention finals: It is a 48-minute sport. And, in these closing 20 seconds Thursday night time, Haliburton and the Pacers modified the narrative … once more.
First, it was Gilgeous-Alexander — who had 38 factors however was 14-for-30 taking pictures — lacking a clear midrange jumper, his specialty, that will’ve given the Thunder a three-point lead with 10 seconds left. After which, it was Haliburton once more enjoying the position of street spoiler, hitting a circus shot which may not have been fairly as spectacular as his high-bouncing miracle at Madison Sq. Backyard on Might 21. However, in contrast to that shot, this shot gained the sport for the Pacers in regulation.
In consequence, Indiana — which by no means led till Haliburton’s shot from simply contained in the 3-point arc dropped via with 0.3 seconds left — by some means left the Paycom Middle with a 111-110 victory over the closely favored Thunder, and injected an enormous quantity of life into this sequence.
For a lot of Recreation 1, the Thunder have been dictating the phrases of engagement. They pressured Indiana — sometimes nice at taking good care of the ball — right into a crew that was flinging the ball in all places for twenty-four turnovers, in comparison with solely six for Oklahoma Metropolis.
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 vulnerable to do, missed a complete bunch of them (11-for-30). That allowed Indiana — a crew that has pulled off one outstanding comeback after one other in these playoffs — to seek out itself in prime place once more.
And, as he has so many instances in these playoffs, Haliburton delivered.
There are nonetheless loads of causes to suppose Oklahoma Metropolis is the deserved favourite on this sequence. However the second half of Thursday’s sport revealed a blueprint: The Pacers took much better care of the ball, and their high-octane offense took off. Oklahoma Metropolis, in the meantime, received right into a rut offensively, and Gilgeous-Alexander had a few crucial misses within the closing moments.
Due to it, as they did in each the Jap Convention semifinals in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Jap Convention finals in New York, the Pacers have claimed a Recreation 1 street victory.
And, in consequence, we now have ourselves a sequence. — Bontemps
The Thunder want 48 minutes of their NBA-best protection, not 24
The primary half displayed the Thunder’s defensive fury at its best, forcing 19 turnovers whereas holding the Pacers to 45 factors. But it surely did not maintain up within the second half.
Possibly it simply took the Pacers a few quarters to regulate to the Thunder’s defensive stress, however Indiana regarded snug after halftime, placing up 66 factors within the second half — 35 within the fourth quarter, punctuated by Haliburton’s successful shot — to tug off the upset.
Indiana additionally had solely 5 turnovers within the second half, enjoying their model of fast-paced, under-control offense. — MacMahon
A brand new information to a different ridiculous Pacers comeback: minimize the turnovers
If this postseason has taught us something, it is that the Pacers can by no means be counted out. After trailing by 15 factors within the fourth quarter, Indiana stormed again to take Recreation 1 on one more successful shot by Haliburton with 0.3 seconds remaining, the Pacers’ solely lead.
It has turn into a sequence staple for the Pacers throughout this postseason run: a fourth-quarter Recreation 1 comeback that has demoralized every of their earlier three opponents.
Indiana’s comeback this time was fueled by its normal suspects, some clutch 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 half.
After which, in fact, Haliburton hit one other huge shot to seal the deal. — Collier