MVP Mode: Shai Leads Thunder Past Pacers to Tie Series
The Oklahoma City Thunder responded to their NBA Finals Game 1 loss in proper fashion, defeating the Indiana Pacers 123-107 Sunday in OKC to even the series at one game apiece.
Halliburton’s Game 1 Heroics
The Pacers were able to overcome 25 turnovers and a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to stun the heavily favored Thunder in Game One 111-110.
The Thunder led the entire game until Mr. Big Shot 2.0 Tyrese Halliburton hit a 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left, giving Indiana its first and only lead of the game.
Halliburton; who was voted the League’s most overrated player this season in an anonymous players poll, has been huge for the Pacers in clutch time this postseason.
Historic Postseason Moments
According to NBA.com, Thursday night’s game-winner was Haliburton’s fourth game-winning or game-tying shot in the final five seconds of games this postseason. Amazingly, he’s done it in every round of the postseason.
But wait there’s more…
Since the 1997 postseason, Haliburton’s five go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of games are tied with Pacers legend Reggie Miller and trailing only Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, according to NBA TV.
Thunder Dominate Game 2
Heroics weren’t enough to keep the Thunder from redemption in Game 2 however. Including the NBA Cup title game, which doesn’t count in any standings, the Thunder are now 18-2 this season when coming off a loss. Of those 18 wins, 12 have been by double digits.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 34 points, Alex Caruso added 20 off the bench and the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday night to tie the Finals series at one game apiece.
Scoring Breakdown
Jalen Williams scored 19, Aaron Wiggins had 18 and Chet Holmgren finished with 15 for the Thunder. It was the franchise’s first finals game win since the opener of the 2012 series against Miami.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 to lead Indiana. Myles Turner scored 16 and Pascal Siakam added 15 for the Pacers, the first team since Miami in 2013 to not have a 20-point scorer in the first two games of the finals.
Looking Ahead: Game 3
It will be on the Indiana Pacers to return serve and hold onto home court advantage Wednesday night in Indiana for Game 3.
Series tied 1-1
Next: Wednesday June 11 @ Indiana
ABC 7:30 PM
