Thunder defeat Pacers and tie the NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from their Game 1 loss in the NBA Finals to defeat the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday, tying the series at 1-1. After Thursday's painful outcome, when Tyrese Haliburton sealed Indiana's victory in the final second, the Oklahoma team showed character from the start, dominating the game with a lead that reached 23 points in the second quarter .

The Thunder's star trio responded emphatically: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals, accompanied by a solid Chet Holmgren (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Jalen Williams (19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists). Off the bench, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins provided energy and key points, while defense and rebounding dominance tilted the game in Oklahoma's favor.

Indiana, for its part, had a very inconsistent performance . Haliburton scored just five points in the first three quarters and finished with 17, but his mistakes and turnovers weighed heavily. Siakam also didn't shine, and although several Pacers players scored in double figures, none surpassed 20 points. A lack of offensive effectiveness and defensive disengagement were decisive in the defeat.

Holmgren, criticized for his poor performance in Game 1, responded with intensity from the start, contributing 9 points in the first quarter alone and improving his defensive presence. Meanwhile, the Pacers relied on three-pointers but with little effectiveness, allowing the Thunder to take control of the pace. The second quarter was especially decisive, with a 19-2 run that boosted the home team's lead .

Although Indiana tried to react with a 0-10 run that momentarily broke the rival's dominance, Oklahoma remained calm and closed the first half 59-41 with an excellent 51.1% shooting from the field. The defense was once again one of the great pillars of the team coached by Mark Daigneault , preventing Indiana from finding comfort on offense.

In the second half, the Pacers once again showed their usual resilience and closed the gap in the third quarter, but Shai emerged once again to stem any comeback attempts. With 12 points in that period, the Canadian sealed the game and allowed the Thunder to secure a comfortable victory. The series now moves to Indianapolis, where Games 3 and 4 will be played on June 11 and 13 .

SV