Inspired by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder hit back in the NBA Finals.
While Tyrese Haliburton showcased his ‘clutch’ heroics with a last-second basket that secured a shock win for the Indiana Pacers in Game 1, Sunday night was all about the reigning MVP.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to victory in Game 2 of the NBA FinalsGettyGilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to lead OKC to a comfortable 123-107 victory and tie the 2025 finals at one game apiece.
SGA went 11-of-21 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the foul line, in what was his 12th 30-point game from 18 playoff matches this postseason.
He added five rebounds and eight assists for his team, on a night that saw him consistently carve up the Pacers’ defense and prove why he was named the NBA‘s standout individual, as he looks to deliver what a former Thunder $1bn super-trio couldn’t.
Gilgeous-Alexander even had time to channel Stephen Curry, by hitting the ‘too small’ celebration after knocking down a clean fadeaway.
With a healthy 18-point lead in the third quarter, he slipped away from Bennedict Mathurin, and sent the ball over the outstretched arm of his opponent to increase the gap on the scoreboard to 20.
As SGA turned back, he let Mathurin know he was ‘too small’ with the taunt that Curry and many other NBA stars have used in recent years.
The action is pretty straightforward — when a player scores on a defender that they deem to be too small to stop them, they lower a hand to the ground to make sure everyone watching knows that their opponent doesn’t measure up.
It is arguably the most disrespectful taunt in basketball, and right now, there are very few who can match the 6-foot-6 MVP.
That was just one eye-catching moment in a series that has seen him put up 72 points so far — the most by any player in his first two Finals games.
SGA passed Hall of Famer Allen Iverson by one point to take that honor.
SGA knocked down a fadeaway jumper in the third quarterX: @ESPN He then hit the ‘too small’ taunt on his opponentX: @ESPN“I’m being myself,” he said post-game.
“I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset.
“Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Game 2 performance was even praised by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who seems to have resigned himself to the fact that conceding buckets to the MVP is inevitable.
“You can mark down 34 points before they even get on the plane tomorrow for the next game,” he said.
“The guy’s going to score. We’ve got to find ways to make it as tough as possible on him.”
Even Pacers coach Carlisle admitted that it’s near impossible to stop SGAGettyIf Indiana can’t stop SGA from scoring, they will need to make it harder for him to dish out the ball in Game 3.
On Sunday, he provided assists to seven different teammates, and his decisive passes out of double-teams also started multiple sequences that led to wide-open looks for the Thunder.
“He’s just getting better and better, which is very impressive,” teammate Jalen Williams, who added 19 points and five assists for OKC, said.
“Obviously, he’s the MVP of the league. For him to continue to get better is good. He just trusts us to make plays.”
“I think when your best player is out there and he trusts you to make a play, it just gives you more confidence.
“He understands that.”
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will now hit the road for the first time in the NBA Finals, and head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 on Wednesday night.
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