Haliburton Fails, Gilgeous-Alexander Does Not! Oklahoma City Dominates, Ties Finals to 1-1

Mission accomplished for the Thunder after the incredible debacle in the opening game of the 2025 NBA Finals. Oklahoma City, in fact, plays its basketball, changes pace at the end of the first quarter and keeps the Pacers at a safe distance, then going on to win easily 123-107. It is 1-1, therefore, in a much more fought series than what many expected on the eve. Gilgeous-Alexander plays once again as an MVP, finishes with 34 points, eight assists and four steals and thus leads his Thunder to a comfortable victory.

Indiana starts without any fear, knowing they can play on velvet after the success in Game 1 , OKC for its part stutters for the first few minutes and needs a change of direction that comes with the entrance on the court of the usual Caruso. Haliburton's first basket gives the guests the +3, Daigneault finally decides to deploy his two big men together and the choice pays off. Hartenstein makes his presence felt on defense but above all Holmgren shines, scoring seven consecutive points. The home team closes the first quarter with a 9-0 partial, running away to +6. McConnell tries to change direction in a match that seems to be going badly for the Pacers but the Thunder do not collaborate at all. On the contrary. Wiggins' impact from the bench at the beginning of the second quarter is devastating, OKC thus even with SGA to catch his breath begins to grind on offense. The change of pace that the home crowd was waiting for arrives promptly with the Thunder producing their best basketball and starting the second quarter with a 26-9 that pushes them to +23. Indiana, however, has shown in these playoffs that they are decidedly hard to kill and even in the most difficult moment they do not lose their compass and with a rapid 10-0 they get back into the match. A couple of plays by Gilgeous-Alexander rekindle the Paycom Center, Oklahoma City goes back to defending with discipline and closes on a high, thus going into the locker room ahead 59-41.

Indiana after scoring 45 points in the first half of game 1, marked by too many turnovers, scores even less in the second match of the series with a struggling Haliburton who closes the first two quarters with 1/5 from the field (with two turnovers) for only three points. In attack, things are going better for the Pacers at the beginning of the third quarter with a decidedly aggressive and finally precise Turner. The problem for the visiting team, however, comes from the fact that this time OKC has no offensive lapses. Indiana tries to get back on track and reaches -13 which, considering the comeback in game 1, obviously cannot reassure the home fans, but Caruso takes care of it with five consecutive points to send the Pacers back. Haliburton does not show great aggression and the Thunder, in addition to the plays of SGA, also find the baskets of Jalen Williams and the production of an excellent Wiggins.

The hosts close the third quarter ahead by 19 points and not even Haliburton's acceleration at the beginning of the fourth period puts them in difficulty. Gilgeous-Alexander does not take his foot off the accelerator bringing the Thunder back to +22 with 5'50'' to go, putting them in safety. Coach Carlisle waits another minute then officially raises the white flag by inserting Furphy in place of a Haliburton who is not brilliant despite his 17 points. Oklahoma City thus, after the shock of game-1, gets exactly what it wanted with a large victory in the second match of the series, tying the scores with the Finals who now move to Indianapolis for game-3 (scheduled for Wednesday) and game-4.

Oklahoma City : Gilgeous-Alexander 34 (10/17, 1/4, 11/12 tl), Caruso 20, Jal. Williams 19. Rebounds: Hartenstein 8. Assists: Gilgeous-Alexander 8.

Indiana : Haliburton 17 (4/5, 3/8), Turner 16, Siakam 15. Rebounds: Siakam 7. Assists: McConnell, Haliburton 6.