MVP Shai and a record-breaking bench, Game 2 belongs to OKC: “Panic? zero”
The Thunder even the series against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals with a 122-113 win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way with 30 points, but OKC’s bench proves to be the real difference-maker
Losing Game 1 of a playoff series is never part of the plan, but the Oklahoma City Thunder seem almost used to it by now. Not exactly a luxury, but close to a certainty: once again they responded immediately, evening the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs with a 122-113 victory that spoke volumes about the team’s resilience.
This isn’t the first time it has happened. During last season’s title run, OKC had already found itself down 0-1 on two separate occasions and bounced back both times. Coincidence? Hard to believe.
I played terribly in Game 1… I need to manage my rest better
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai delivers the points, the bench delivers the win
Two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points and 9 assists while committing only one turnover. A strong performance, though the real story of the night came from the Thunder bench.
At this point in the season you can’t invent anything special. Every team has its identity, and the team that imposes it better usually wins regardless of the stakes. Tonight we did it better than in Game 1
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The numbers backed it up: OKC dominating bench scored 57-25, with four reserves finishing in double figures. One of them was Alex Caruso, who added 17 points and made his usual impact defensively, summing it up perfectly:
Panic? Zero
Alex Caruso
That 57-point bench performance tied the Thunder’s season-high in a playoff game (previously set last year against Denver). Defense did the rest: 14 steals, 11 of them coming from reserves, and 27 points generated off 21 forced turnovers. Only last year’s Thunder and the 2007 Golden State Warriors have posted better postseason numbers in that category.
Hartenstein: the adjustment that changed the series
The game’s biggest tactical move belonged to coach Mark Daigneault: Isaiah Hartenstein went from just 12 minutes in Game 1 to becoming a key figure in Game 2, logging 27 minutes with 10 points, 13 rebounds (8 offensive), and 3 assists.
The reason was simple: in Game 1, Victor Wembanyama had done whatever he wanted – 41 points and 24 rebounds – partly because OKC often matched him up against guards instead of a physical center.
That’s part of my game, being physical. In Game 1 they were more physical than we were. Wembanyama is an incredible player and he’s always going to get his numbers, but you have to make everything as difficult as possible
Isaiah Hartenstein
This time Hartenstein was there to make life uncomfortable for the French phenom. The two matched up directly on 47 defensive possessions – sometimes pushing the boundaries of the rulebook – compared to only three in Game 1. The result? Wembanyama was “held” to 21 points and 17 rebounds, while his points in the paint dropped dramatically from 26 to 10.
He’s an incredible player. I just wanted to have a bigger physical impact and make sure he couldn’t score easily near the basket. You have to make life as hard as possible. I think we did a better job as a team
Isaiah Hartenstein
SGA: looser, sharper, more effective
In Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled (24 points on 7-for-23 shooting), partly affected by Wembanyama’s presence as a rim protector. In Game 2, SGA shot 12-for-24, with every made basket coming from inside the arc.
I think we simply got a little more used to that kind of defense. It’s unique, different from anything else in the league. It takes time. But we have to keep improving if we want to win this series
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Williams’ injury
There was one sour note for OKC: Jalen Williams exited the game after the first quarter with a muscle injury. His availability for the upcoming games remains uncertain, and it could have a major impact on the Thunder’s push toward the NBA Finals.
He’ll be evaluated tomorrow morning. We’ll see how he’s feeling. We’ll keep you updated
Mark Daigneault
The series now shifts to San Antonio: tied 1-1, with everything still up for grabs. Game 3 tips off Saturday night.