The Thunder beat the Pacers to score 1-1 on aggregate! Alexander 34+8 unlocks milestone Haliburton 17 points

On June 9, Beijing time, the second game of the NBA Finals began, and the Thunder defeated the Pacers 123-107 at home, tying the total score at 1-1. Alexander shot 11-of-21 from the field and contributed 34 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals, unlocking the milestone of 3,000 points in a single season (regular season + playoffs), becoming the 12th player in NBA history to do so. The Thunder led by 18 points at the end of the first half, leading by as many as 23 points, and won relatively easily. Haliburton scored 17 points, the first three quarters were sluggish, and the final quarter was in good shape, with 12 points in a single quarter but no longer able to recover.

Statistics

Pacers: Haliburton 17 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists, Turner 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Siakam 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Nesmith 14 points and 4 rebounds, Nembhard 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Mathurin 14 points, McConnell 11 points and 6 assists, Toppin 3 points and 5 rebounds

Thunder: Alexander 34 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals, Jalen Williams 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Holmgren 15 points and 6 rebounds, Caruso 20 points, Wiggins 18 points and 5 threes, Wallace 4 points, Hatten 3 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, Dort 3 points

The star of the game

Alexander was able to play well both offensively and defensively, leading the Thunder to beat the Pacers and tie the total score at 1-1.

Match tidbits

Alexander's mid-range shot in the first quarter unlocked the 3,000-point milestone in a single season (2,484 points in the regular season + 516 points in the playoffs). Alexander also became the 12th player in NBA history to unlock the feat, joining Jordan, Chamberlain, McAdoo, Elgin Baylor, Harden, Abdul-Jabbar, Durant, Kobe, Rick Barry, O'Neal, and Doncic.

Game recap

In the first quarter, Siakam and Dort hit three-point shots, Alexander scored five points in a row, and the Thunder opened the game 12-7. Nembhard answered with a three-pointer, Caruso and Mathurin, Toppin and Haliburton also hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Pacers ahead by three points. Isaiah Joe scored a layup, Holmgren was on a hot streak, scoring seven straight points and the Thunder responded with a 9-0 run. Siakam hit a three-pointer but overtime didn't count, and the first quarter ended with the Thunder leading the Pacers 26-20.

In the second quarter, Wiggins hit a throw, Jalen Williams hit a 2+1, and Caruso also made a jumper. Turner and Mathurin scored consecutive layups, Wiggins hit a three-point shot, Holmgren dunked, Alexander scored a backhand layup, and the Thunder exploded into a wave of 19-2 climax, expanding the gap to 23 points. Nembhard scored on a layup, Siakam scored five straight points, and Nesmith hit a three-pointer as the Pacers responded with a 10-0 run. Alexander scored on a layup and Caruso hit a three-pointer to give the Thunder a 59-41 lead over the Pacers at halftime.

Turner scored the first seven points of the second half for the Pacers, and the Thunder's offense was still fierce, with Jalen Williams hitting a three-point shot, Wallace scoring on a throw, and Alexander scoring four points in a row. Nembhard hit a three-pointer, Caruso scored five straight points, Wiggins hit another three-pointer, Siakam hit back-to-back free throws, and Haliburton scored on a throw-in to give the Pacers 15 points behind. Jalen Williams and Alexander drew consecutive fouls and scored from free throws. Nesmith hit another three-pointer and Holmgren dunked in the air, and the third quarter ended with the Thunder leading the Pacers 93-74.

In the final quarter, Hatten scored on a layup, Turner completed a dunk, and Wiggins hit a three-point shot, giving the Thunder a 22-point lead. Haliburton finally found his form, scoring nine straight points on inside and outside shots, but the Thunder's offense didn't drop, Jalen Williams scored four points in a row, and Wiggins hit his fifth three-pointer of the game. Alexander hit a mid-range shot and hit two free throws in a row, scoring more than 30 points. Haliburton hit a three-pointer. With four minutes left in the game, the Pacers pulled down their main team. Alexander scored 2+1, Caruso hit a three-point shot, and McConnell scored four points in a row. The game went into garbage time, and the Thunder also replaced the main team, and in the end, the Thunder defeated the Pacers to tie the overall score at 1-1.

Both sides start

Pacers: Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, Turner

Thunder: Alexander, Wallace, Jalen Williams, Dort, Holmgren