NBA Finals Recreation 2 takeaways: Thunder bounce again to even sequence 1-1

The NBA Finals are right here, with West No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the East No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers squaring off with the hope of lifting their first-ever Larry O’Brien trophy on the finish of the highly-anticipated sequence.

That is the Pacers’ first Finals look since 2000, after they ultimately fell to the Lakers in six video games. The Thunder final made the Finals in 2012 and misplaced to LeBron James and the Miami Warmth in 5 video games. 

This is what has stood out from Sunday’s Recreation 2 and what to anticipate from Recreation 3 on Wednesday: 

Recreation 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

What stood out for the Thunder: The Thunder realized their lesson from Recreation 1 and performed all 48 minutes of Recreation 2 after blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead within the Finals opener. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 33-21 within the second quarter to steer by as a lot as 23 factors, entered the fourth quarter with a 19-point lead and saved a large benefit by the ultimate buzzer. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had one other 30-plus level efficiency within the championship spherical, ending with 34 factors, 5 rebounds, eight assists and 4 steals. However this time round, he had rather more assist, with the Thunder’s reserves outscoring the Pacers’ bench, 48-34. The Thunder’s top-rated protection suffocated the Pacers’ offense. 4 Thunder gamers scored not less than 18 factors, whereas nobody on the Pacers scored greater than 17 factors.

What stood out for the Pacers: The Pacers have been outrebounded, 43-35, and outscored in factors within the paint, 42-34. Tyrese Haliburton had simply 17 factors, together with solely scoring three factors within the first half on 1-for-5 taking pictures from the sphere. The Pacers merely appeared out of kinds in opposition to a Thunder workforce that was shocked in Recreation 1 and made certain to come back out with their foot on the fuel on each ends of the courtroom in Recreation 2. Each run the Pacers went on was thwarted by the Thunder, who made certain to not permit the come-from-behind workforce to take a 2-0 sequence lead on their house courtroom.

What to anticipate in Recreation 3: For the Pacers, right here’s to betting Haliburton and Co. come out far more aggressive in Recreation 3. There’s no means the Pacers’ star participant can end with simply two extra area targets (seven) than turnovers (5) and the Japanese Convention Finals MVP, Pascal Siakam, can have 15 factors on 3-for-11 taking pictures and this workforce can count on to have an opportunity to win. The Pacers have to pound the boards and determine methods to seek out their lanes in opposition to the Thunder’s swarming protection. As for the Thunder, they should attempt to replicate this wall-to-wall effort in Recreation 3, realizing that no lead is ever protected in opposition to the Pacers, particularly on their house ground. The Thunder did an amazing job getting a number of gamers concerned, together with reserve Alex Caruso, who shined on each ends of the courtroom with nice protection in addition to being the workforce’s second-leading scorer with 20 factors, making 4 3-pointers.

Recreation 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

What stood out for the Thunder: Oklahoma Metropolis realized a vital lesson in Recreation 1 of the Finals. No. Lead. Is. Protected. In opposition to. The. Pacers. Ever. The Pacers, who’ve had a number of historic comebacks this postseason, pulled off the unbelievable once more, storming again from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to take their first lead of the sport with 0.3 seconds left after Tyrese Haliburton made a 21-foot pullup jumper to stun the Thunder and their sold-out crowd at Paycom Middle. This was the final word wake-up name for the Thunder, who held management for over 47 minutes, behind a 38-point efficiency from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored twice as many factors as another participant on the courtroom. However Haliburton, who has made a reputation for himself this postseason with three buzzer-beaters and go-ahead buckets heading into the Finals, made the Thunder his newest sufferer.

What stood out for the Pacers: Whereas Haliburton’s late-game heroics have already turn out to be playoff lore, it will be good if he and his workforce weren’t in that place. The Pacers had a whopping 25 turnovers whereas the Thunder solely had seven. Additionally they had 16 fewer area purpose makes an attempt than the Thunder. For a lot of the sport, the Pacers struggled to generate a lot offense in opposition to the swarming Thunder protection, with no participant on Indiana even scoring 20 factors. Though the Thunder solely led by as a lot as 15 factors, it appeared as if their lead was twice as massive for a lot of the sport — till the fourth quarter when the comeback kings did what they do greatest.

What to anticipate in Recreation 2: For the Thunder, they’ve clearly realized that they should play all 48 minutes in opposition to this Pacers workforce, which has made it very clear that they by no means give up. They cannot permit the Pacers to go on heaters late within the sport, equivalent to after they went on a 12-2 fourth-quarter run to chop their 15-point deficit to simply 4 factors. If the Pacers are inside putting distance, the opposing workforce is in bother. As for the Pacers, whereas Haliburton is as soon as once more the hero of the playoffs, he solely scored 14 factors. He must be rather more aggressive offensively for the Pacers to keep away from needing to depend on a buzzer-beater. In the meantime, the Pacers did an amazing job dominating the boards, the place that they had a 56-39 benefit. If they’ll get fewer turnovers and Haliburton will get going early, they might be in a distinct place in Recreation 2. 

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Comply with her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

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