Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder bounced again Wednesday night time from Monday’s heartbreaking double-overtime Recreation 1 loss to do what they do greatest — fluster their opponent and create errors.
The outcome was a 122-113 win over the the San Antonio Spurs in Recreation 2 of the Western Convention finals. The win fends off a disastrous sequence begin at house and sends it to San Antonio tied at 1-1.
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Accidents hit each groups arduous
The outcome didn’t come with out a price for each groups. All-NBA Thunder ahead Jalen Williams left the sport within the first half with tightness in the identical left hamstring that sidelined him for six earlier playoff video games. He was dominated out within the third quarter.
All-Rookie Spurs guard Dylan Harper left the sport within the third quarter with a leg harm and was dominated out earlier than the beginning of the fourth.
Harper was beginning his second consecutive recreation instead of injured place to begin guard De’Aaron Fox, who missed Video games 1 and a couple of with lingering ankle soreness.
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The severity of Williams’ and Harper’s accidents weren’t instantly clear. Neither staff supplied any harm updates postgame. Each groups dug deep Wednesday night time of their absence in one other hard-fought recreation on the heels of enjoying two overtimes Monday night time.
SGA bounces again to maintain OKC within the sequence
Ultimately, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered in Recreation 2 to counter a poor Recreation 1 within the face of Victor Wembnayama’s masterpiece. He completed with 30 factors, 9 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal to tempo the Thunder effort Wednesday night time.
After taking pictures 30.4% from the ground and posting a game-worst minus-15 in Recreation 1, Gilgeous-Alexander shot 50% and completed plus-14 in Recreation 2.
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He additionally hit a deep jumper to ice the sport within the remaining minute.
That is the two-time MVP SGA the Thunder must counter Wembanyama’s Spurs.
It was a balanced scoring effort behind Gilgeous-Alexander as seven Thunder gamers scored in double figures. Alex Caruso had one other sturdy recreation after scoring 31 in Recreation 1 with 17 factors, 5 assists and three rebounds whereas taking pictures 3 of 4 from 3.
Wallace tallied 12 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals whereas taking Williams’ place alongside the Thunder starters. Ajay Mitchell additionally posted 4 steals to go along with his 10 factors.
However Mitchell additionally appeared to maintain a lower-body harm that sidelined him for the final minute of the game. The Thunder didn’t present a standing replace within the recreation’s fast aftermath.
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Turnovers doom Spurs
Mitchell and Wallace led Oklahoma Metropolis’s return to its trademark swarming protection because the Thunder pressured 21 Spurs turnovers to tilt the sport to their benefit.
Wembanyama wasn’t silenced and countered with one other sturdy recreation after his lofty 41-point, 24-rebound effort in Recreation 1. He completed with 21 factors, 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. He additionally added 4 turnovers.
Stephon Citadel was environment friendly when he shot the ball (10 of 17) whereas tallying a team-high 25 factors and eight assists. However his 9 turnovers tarnished his field rating for a second consecutive recreation.
He’s now as much as 20 turnovers within the sequence after a whopping 11 giveaways in Recreation 1, the highest tally by a single player in a two-game stretch in playoff historical past.
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The turnovers in the end sank the Spurs after a sizzling begin from each groups and a San Antonio rally within the third quarter.
The Thunder took management with a 61-51 halftime lead after the groups performed to a 31-31 tie via one quarter. The Spurs punched again to tie the sport at 69 within the third. However the rally was short-lived as Oklahoma Metropolis surged again to an 87-77 benefit earlier than the quarter was over.
From there, the Spurs didn’t mount one other problem. And the sequence shifts to San Antonio for Recreation 3 Friday night time (8:30 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock) tied at 1-1.
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Jason Owens
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Jack Baer
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 30 factors on 12-of-24 taking pictures, 9 assists, 4 rebounds
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Isaiah Hartenstein: 10 rebounds, 13 rebounds (8 offensive)
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Victor Wembanyama: 21 factors, 17 rebounds, 6 assists 4 blocks
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Stephon Citadel: 25 factors, 8 assists, 9 turnovers
The massive distinction: 21 turnovers for the Spurs, 9 for the Thunder.
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Jack Baer
Stephon Citadel is as much as 20 turnovers between Video games 1 and a couple of, and his newest offers OKC the ball again up 5 with a minute left. San Antonio has dedicated 21 complete tonight.
In the meantime, Ajay Mitchell is coping with an obvious harm, in a recreation that has already seen two important gamers depart.
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Jack Baer
Isaiah Hartenstein is as much as eight offensive rebounds (11 complete) tonight. He’s been enormous for OKC, as his physicality has helped forestall Victor Wembanyama from taking up once more.
It’s precisely what he wanted after a tough Recreation 1, and maybe aided by some extra passive officiating.
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Jack Baer
OKC responds with a fast 8-0 run to increase the result in double digits with seven minutes left.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
With Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander taking a breather, the Spurs open the fourth-quarter on a 9-3 run, capped off by a Harrison Barnes 3-pointer. Victor Wembanyama additionally did one other tip-in dunk off his personal shot. It’s been a enjoyable recreation.
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Jack Baer
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Jason Owens
Each groups are coping with accidents. To this point, the Thunder have persevered with out Jalen Williams and enter the fourth quarter with a 96-88 lead. Neither Williams (hamstring) nor Dylan Harper (leg) will return.
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Jason Owens
Chet Holmgren simply drove for a baseline dunk on a pleasant go from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and OKC’s lead is as much as 87-77 after San Antonio tied the sport at 69.
There’s nonetheless no phrase on Spurs guard Dylan Harper who grabbed his thigh and walked to the locker room. Thunder ahead Jalen Williams received’t return with a hamstring harm.
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Jason Owens
With Jalen Williams out, the Spurs began the second half on a 16-7 run to tie the sport at 69-69.
The Thunder have up to now weathered the storm and maintain a 77-73 lead with 4:50 remaining within the third quarter. And Spurs guard Dylan Harper simply walked to the locker room after grabbing his thigh following a fall.
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Jason Owens
The Thunder dominated Jalen Williams out with hamstring tightness early within the third quarter. A giant blow for OKC in a troublesome sequence.
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Jason Owens
Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 15 factors, 5 assists, 1 steal, +10 in plus/minus
Alex Caruso: 7 factors, 2 rebounds 1 stealSpurs: Victor Wembanyama: 7 factors, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks
Stephon Citadel: 16 factors, 4 rebounds, 1 help, 1 stealGroup stats
Thunder: 5 turnovers
Spurs: 13 turnoversThunder 23 rebounds
Spurs: 24 rebounds -
Jason Owens
Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Jalen Williams was getting work carried out on his hamstring earlier than halftime. He hasn’t performed for the reason that first quarter.
Nonetheless no phrase from the Thunder on his standing.
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Jason Owens
The Thunder have ramped up the protection in Recreation 2 and take a 62-51 lead into halftime. Oklahoma Metropolis has pressured 13 San Antonio turnovers and dedicated simply 5, and it’s made the distinction within the first half.
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Jason Owens
Make that two fouls referred to as on Victor Wembanyama that have been overturned by a profitable problem.
Wembanyama’s third would-be foul on a clear block of Chet Holmgren was overturned late within the second quarter.
The challenges have stored Wembanyama out of pointless foul bother and are definitely value it. However the Spurs are out of challenges for the remainder of the sport.
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Jason Owens
Thunder ahead Jalen Williams hasn’t performed for the reason that first quarter and, in accordance with reporters on the scene, is just not on the Thunder bench. There’s no phrase or indication in any other case that Williams is injured.
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Jason Owens
The Thunder are doing what they arguably do greatest — forcing turnovers. And it’s making the early distinction within the recreation.
OKC has an 11-5 edge in takeaways and a 56-47 benefit on the scoreboard with 2:56 remaining within the second quarter.
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Jason Owens
Oh my. Stephon Citadel has arrived.
The Spurs guard drove from past the arc, launched himself over Isaiah Hartenstein and threw down a hammer dunk over the Thunder massive man for one of many nastiest dunks of this or any postseason.
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Jason Owens
Recreation 2’s off to sturdy begin.
The Spurs and Thunder will go into the second quarter locked in a 31-31 tie after a well-played quarter that featured 13 lead modifications. The quarter ended with Cason Wallace taking a cost on an aggressive Victor Wembanyama drive to the basket as Chet Holmgren defended.
Wembanyma’s solely bucket of the quarter from past the arc accounts for his 3 factors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 4 factors and three assists.
