Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to prove why he’s the NBA’s scoring leader by leading the Thunder to a series-tying 123-107 win over the Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. The 34-year-old point guard dominated the game with 11-of-21 shooting and 11-of-12 from the foul line, as well as eight assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance earned him his second consecutive MVP award this season, surpassing Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in series points. He has now scored at least 30 points in 12 playoff games, a franchise record that exceeds Kevin Durant’s mark.
The Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to make plays for his teammates, saying he “continues to progress and improve and rise to every occasion.” This marks the 11th game of the playoffs with at least 30 points and five assists, a feat that only LeBron James has accomplished three times.
Gilgeous-Alexander attributes his team’s success to having a strong supporting cast. “I don’t play in space as much as I do without having them out there,” he said. “I just add to it.” The Thunder coach agrees, stating that Gilgeous-Alexander is not a one-man show and has improved significantly as a playmaker.
The Pacers’ struggles to contain Gilgeous-Alexander were evident in the game, with several players scoring 3-pointers off his passes. “It’s just getting better and better,” said Thunder co-star Jalen Williams, who tallied 19 points and five assists.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45477019/thunder-bounce-back-dominant-game-2-win-pacers