Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played like the superstar he is in Game 2 of the NBA Finals – like someone who belongs in the same breath as the NBA great Wilt Chamberlain.
In front of a roaring home crowd, the reigning MVP put on another brilliant scoring display to help the Oklahoma City Thunder even the series against the Indiana Pacers. But more than the win, the kind of company he joined has the NBA world buzzing.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Wilt Chamberlain With Dominant Playoff Run
Game 2 of the NBA Finals belonged to Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder guard dropped 34 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out eight assists while shooting 11-of-21 from the field and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. And with that, he etched his name next to one of the most iconic figures in league history as per Greg Harvey, a sports stats expert.
He became the second player to score 30 or more points in nine straight home playoff games. The other is Chamberlain himself, who did it between 1961 and 1964.
Players in NBA history to score 30+ points in nine straight home playoff games:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025)
Wilt Chamberlain (From 1961-64)That’s it. pic.twitter.com/dtNKeMc5iW
— Greg Harvey (@BetweenTheNums) June 9, 2025
That wasn’t the only piece of history for Gilgeous-Alexander, though. His first basket of the night gave him 3,000 points on the season, combining regular season and playoff totals. Then, by the end of Game 2, he had scored 72 points across his first two career NBA Finals games – more than anyone ever, breaking Allen Iverson’s previous record, according to The Athletic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander through two games of the NBA Finals:
◻️ 38 PTS in Game 1
◻️ 34 PTS in Game 2His 72 total points are the most ever by a player in his first two career NBA Finals games, breaking Allen Iverson’s record.
H/T @NBAPR | #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/GrD0SToXZJ
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 9, 2025
He did all this while making sure Indiana couldn’t repeat the script from Game 1. The Pacers were down by 19 in the fourth quarter, but had shown all postseason that they don’t go away quietly. This time, SGA didn’t leave the door open.
“We have to be really good if we have to go down there and win,” SGA said in the post-game interview, emphasizing his mindset and the goal that the OKC team is focused on.
Thunder Finds Its Flow As Gilgeous-Alexander Leads the Charge
Oklahoma City’s response to the Game 1 loss was firm and fast. The Thunder shot nearly 49 percent from the field, knocked down 14 3s, and made 29 of 33 free throws in the win. Their energy on the glass stood out, too – OKC won the rebounding battle 43 to 35 and collected 11 offensive boards. Their defense wasn’t perfect, but it did enough.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 for the Pacers, while Pascal Siakam added 15, and Myles Turner had 16. Still, none of them could shift the momentum once SGA took over.
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The Thunder also protected the paint better, finishing with 42 points near the rim compared to Indiana’s 34. They forced 15 turnovers and had 10 steals, showing more urgency than they did in the opener.
The series is now tied 1-1 heading into Game 3. With Gilgeous-Alexander playing at an MVP level and making history in the process, OKC is back to looking like the more confident team. Thunder have found their footing, and they’re following the lead of a star who continues to rise with each game.
