After dropping Game 1 in historic fashion, the Thunder evened the score with the Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
The series opener had it all and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander followed that up by leading all scorers with 34 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field, and his assertiveness was rewarded with a few whistles.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s tendency to get to the line has been a talking point throughout his MVP campaign and the postseason, as he’s attempted 167 free throws through the first 18 games of OKC’s run.
The Sporting News tracked SGA’s trips to the line and his stats against Indiana.
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How many free throws did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander take today?
Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 12 free throws in Game 2, going 11-of-12 from the line as part of a 34-point performance.
MORE PACERS-THUNDER GAME 2:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Game 2 stats vs. Pacers
The MVP finished Game 2 with 34 points on efficient 11-of-21 shooting from the field. In addition to his scoring, SGA pulled down five rebounds and dished out a game-high eight assists.
- 15 points
- 11-21 (52.4%) FG
- 1-4 (25.0%) 3FG
- 5 rebounds
- 8 assists
- 4 steals
- 1 block
- 2 turnovers
After scoring 38 points in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander’s 34 points bring him to 72 points through the first two games. That record puts Gilgeous-Alexander ahead of Allen Iverson for most points through a player’s first two NBA Finals games.
Shai follows 38 in Game 1 with 34 tonight 🔥🔥🔥
MOST POINTS EVER by a player in his first 2 career Finals games 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/e7TbQLiMVI
— NBA (@NBA) June 9, 2025
Head coach Mark Daigneault had this to say of Gilgeous-Alexander’s history-making: “Unsurprising at this point, it’s just kind of what he does.”
With his performance, Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored 30-plus points in 13 of the Thunder’s 18 playoff games in 2025, including four consecutive games.
More than just the scoring was how Gilgeous-Alexander got to his spots to carve up the Indiana defense. Per usual, Gilgeous-Alexander did plenty of work getting downhill, whether it was with finishes around the rim or in the mid-range, with high-degree-of-difficulty shots going through for him.
Shai takes it himself for the TOUGH and-1 😤
Thunder building a lead in the 2Q of Game 2 on ABC ⛈️#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/ZV9iCxpjoM
— NBA (@NBA) June 9, 2025
Typical Shai activities 🤷 pic.twitter.com/nSqsgTD5Pb
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 9, 2025
More than his scoring, Gilgeous-Alexander made his impact as a playmaker. His eight assists were a game high and more than doubled his output from Game 1.
3️⃣rd quarter starts with a 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/PjsFihCHzO
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 9, 2025
Let it fly, @Aaron_Wiggins_ 🏹 pic.twitter.com/caLexX4Qjs
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 9, 2025
As if Gilgeous-Alexander already wasn’t a seemingly impossible cover, his ability to make the right play when the defense adjusts to slow him down makes him even harder to guard.
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