Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers continued to shock the NBA World as he hit a shot that reverberated throughout the association. The reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assuredly has a response. The Oklahoma City Thunder look to clap back in kind. Let’s talk NBA Finals hoops!
Will Mark Daigneault’s Thunder even the series at home?
Game Information
- Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
- #4 Indiana Pacers visit #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
- Previous Matchup: 111-110, June 5th, 2025
- Indiana leads Series 1-0
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The Canadian Kid hit Shai with the ISO and hit a key three late in Game One.
Indiana Pacers @ Oklahoma City Thunder – NBA Finals Game 2
“Man, basketball’s fun,” Haliburton said after Game one.
“Winning is fun.”
Of course that’s what Tyrese Haliburton said after his historic shot. In the clutch, he stepped up to give the Pacers the lead with just 0.3 seconds left in the basketball game. The Pacers were literally throwing the ball into the stands (25 Turnovers) and trailed by as many as 15 in the fourth. The game was tied only once and the lead only changed one time. When Tyrese hit that shot the one-point lead was the largest they held all game.
The Pacers played Pacer Basketball. Yes, that does mean speed and efficiency but it also means team basketball. Pascal Siakam had 19 points. Obi Toppin had 17 (5 Threes), Myles Turner added 15, and the guards Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard scored 14 each. The latter guard hit arguably as big of a shot as Haliburton.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell into the trap. They played at the pace that the Blue & Gold wanted. In the first half it seemed like OKC could finally be the team to beat Indiana at its own game. Then the fourth quarter happened. They were 7/19 (37%) in the final frame. Trying to play at the insane pace Rick Carlisle and company finally exhausted them. Furthermore, the Pacers believe in themselves whole heartedly. When they see their opponent tire then they know they overwhelmed them and their time has come.
The Thunder need J-Dub if they want a strong response!
NBA Finals Game 2 Analysis
If you watched last game on the main broadcast you heard Richard Jefferson call for the Pacers to slow it down in the first half. Tell me you haven’t watched the Pacers enough without telling me you haven’t watched the Pacers enough, Richard. This team has to play it’s style no matter what is transpiring. They don’t have a LeBron or a LeLuka. This is a team in every sense of the word. The Pacers path to victory is the continued power of friendship and Pacer Basketball. Overwhelm, exhaust, and then win. If it ain’t broke then don’t fix it.
After Game One, Haliburton was heard in the tunnel embracing Pascal and telling him that they didn’t even play well. Remember, they committed first-half turnovers and put themselves in a whole early. Scary to think if the Pacers really do have another gear they can shift into.
Conversely, 38 points from the NBA’s MVP was not enough for OKC. The rest of his teammates struggled to produce at the level fans have come to expect. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was phenomenal but dejected postgame, “Basketball ups and downs,” he said after. “Can’t do anything about it now,” Shai continued.
Well, one thing Oklahoma City can do now is shoot the basketball better. They shot just 39.8% overall and 36.7% from beyond the distance. Furthermore, the Thunder did only commit 6 turnovers, but they had just 13 total assists as a team. That tells me that the ball was sticking and their offence was playing without specific intent. The Pacers employ a swarming defensive scheme. Expect the Thunder ready to counter this Sunday night.
The Thunder Must Limit Threes!
However, to conclude, that does not mean they should play fast. They were number one in opponent 3-point % in the NBA’s regular season. Moreover, the four games that the Pacers have lost in the playoffs they have shot under 32% from three. The key to beating them is not allowing those momentum building threes that come from a different player every night. It was Toppin in Game One and then Nesmith in the last series. If the Thunder win here it’s because they limited Indiana’s ranged attack.
Key Outlier.Bet NBA Insights
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has exceeded 33.5 points in 4 of his last 5 games at home (35.2 points/game average). Rick Carlisle might be letting Shai get his and forcing the other guys to help him out. If that’s the case we could see Shai score well every game just like Jalen Brunson in the prior round.
- Aaron Nesmith has exceeded 11.5 points in 7 of his last 9 games on the road (15.6 points/game average). He’s missed it the last two times out so he could be due. Indiana loves his 3 & D capabilities.
NBA Finals Game 1 Best Bet: Jalen Williams o1.5 Threes (-110)
The former 12th overall pick out of Santa Clara has become an elite talent garnering All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defence accolades this year. In Game One, he was bad, he looked off threes for awkward drives, and shot 6-19 from the field. Fortunately, he did not commit a single turnover to his 6 assists. His PA at 27.5 looks good too.
However, the Thunder need him to score. The threes play is from the plums just from what I saw in the last game. So, tail with caution.
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