A Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-inspired Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a resounding performance in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers
With five players scoring over 15 points, the Thunder displayed their depth and versatility in the match-up and managed to ensure that they did not surrender their home-court advantage with the series moving to Indiana on Wednesday for Game 3.
Despite a 38-point performance in Game 1, Oklahoma City Thunder’s main man, Gilgeous-Alexander, had his scoring outburst overshadowed by Tyrese Haliburton’s late-game heroics.
But with pressure mounting, the reigning MVP stepped up for his team once again and ensured that he broke a couple of long-standing NBA records, too, for good measure.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes NBA history
A player has rarely had to prove himself despite scoring over 30 points a game for three regular seasons in a row.
But this was the position SGA found himself in, heading to the postseason in 2025, as fans and critics questioned his playoff pedigree, especially after the Thunder flamed out to the Minnesota Timberwolves despite being favourites to win the series in 2024.
Safe to say that the Canadian superstar has silenced his critics in this playoff run with the Thunder, and his 34-point performance on Sunday served to add a couple more feathers to his heavily decorated cap for the year.
Gilgeous-Alexander now holds the record for the longest run of 30+ point games at home in a single playoff run, with Sunday’s box score marking his 9th consecutive game at the Paycom Centre with over 30 points a night.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s scorching start to the NBA Finals means that he also holds the record for most points scored by a player over their first two Finals appearances, breaking Allen Iverson’s record in the process.
SGA’s total of 72 points over his first two appearances was just enough to overcome Iverson’s 71 points from his iconic 2001 NBA Finals run against the Los Angeles Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers.
With at least three more games left in the NBA Finals, one can expect a few more records to come toppling with SGA performing the way he has.
Allen Iverson praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s playoff performances
Former NBA players are often critical of the current crop and have manifested a lot of comparisons and debates over the years when it comes to comparing eras.
However, Iverson, who had his long-standing NBA finals record broken by Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday, has stood out as one of the exceptions to the rule and congratulated the OKC star on his postseason success earlier in June.
With baskets flying in and NBA greats appreciating his play, you can bet Gilgeous-Alexander will be on cloud nine heading into the final stages of the Finals.