OKC Thunder did it once again. Just like the other times, they lost one game only to win the next one. Game 2 saw them tie the NBA Finals, with 123-107 against the Indiana Pacers. A strong army led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a benched Alex Caruso took all the brownie points in a show with an underwhelming performance by Tyrese Haliburton and the team.
But Alex Caruso isn’t ready to take away the applause that comes along just yet.
Alex Caruso Is Aiming for the Big Prize and Not Small Wins
Despite there being no drama, no Haliburton’s go-ahead shots with 0.3 seconds left in the game, Game 2 was still a thriller. OKC evened the lead, but Caruso feels that there’s a lot more to be done than gain accolades for winning just one.
In the post-game pressers, he sent a loud and clear message to the world. “I truly don’t want people to congratulate me until the series is over and we’ve won.”
He continued, “Getting here isn’t guaranteed. Nobody gets a free pass, nobody gets an extended welcome. You have to earn it every time. Being here is an accomplishment. Winning it is the real pinnacle.”
Alex Caruso on being back in the NBA Finals: “I truly don’t want people to congratulate me until the series is over and we’ve won.” pic.twitter.com/tUlulWeK1w
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) June 9, 2025
No matter what Caruso says, winning this game was indeed crucial for the OKC Thunder. And Caruso did play a catalyst for this victory. He delivered a standout performance, scoring 20 points with a great shooting accuracy (54.5%).
Fans could see glimpses of his Lakers’ energy showing in the game. He was strong and offensive, even as his defensive contributions were noteworthy, too. He was relentlessly more in rhythm and was capable enough to disrupt the opponent’s scoring ability. Game 2 really saw Caruso put in one of his finest playoff performances so far.
OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers: A Short Recap
OKC cruised past the Pacers in Game 2, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 34 points. It was not just Caruso but everyone on the OKC roster dominating defensively. They managed to hold the Pacers to only 38.7% shooting during the first three quarters.
On the Indy’s side, Haliburton had a rather quiet night, with him only putting up 5 points during the first three quarters. He then went on to finish it off with 17 in total.
After blowing the first game, OKC never lifted its foot off the pedal. They took an 11-point lead with just roughly 7 minutes remaining in the second quarter. They then led by double digits for the rest of the game’s duration.
Thunder’s brilliance in Game 2 showed up in their offensive strategies. They shot efficiently from the field, hit more free throws, and made more 3-pointers in the game. They also won the rebound battle after suffering in the first game.
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SGA was great, shooting 11 of his 21 field goals on Sunday. He also shot 11 of 12 from the free-throw line. Chet Holmgren bounced back as well, scoring 15 points. Pacers trailed majorly, especially during the last 38 minutes of the game, and could not lead by more than 3 points. The two teams now meet for Game 3 on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
