The Thunder's Back-to-Back Victories in 2025 NBA Finals: SGA Shines While Hartenstein Delivers Momentum
Relentless Onslaught from Ice-Cold Thunder Leaves Pacers Struggling
The Oklahoma City Thunder unleashed a laundry list of tricks, stealing the second game of the Finals series against the Indiana Pacers. After a nail-biting Game 1, Oklahoma City snatched a commanding 123-107 victory in their home court, tying the series at 1-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his exceptional form, adding another 34 points to his tally. Isaiah Hartenstein, a powerhouse player off the bench, chipped in with 3 points and 8 rebounds in 22 minutes.
"Don't fret about the minutes. I've earned my spot, and I'm still one of the top big men in this league," Hartenstein asserted before the game. His loud and proud backing includes his family, as they're all stateside.
SGA was, yet again, an unstoppable force. His dominance in Game 1 (38 points) was replicated in Game 2, leading OKC to redemption. The Thunder boasted five players in double digits, with Alex Caruso contributing a perfect 20 points, thanks to four three-pointers. Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton faced a defensive onslaught from OKC, averaging only 17 points and committing five turnovers.
"Life in the NBA is an oscillating dance. Seasons go up and down, and this series is no different. It's a team's ability to maintain composure, pick themselves up after failures, and ultimately emerge victorious that counts," SGA concluded post-game. Game 3 kicks off on Thursday (2:30 AM), with Indiana hosting the first home-court advantage.
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[2] ESPN.com, J. Palmer. (2025). Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers: Game 2 Analysis by J.A. Adande. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34567231/oklahoma-city-thunder-indiana-pacers-game-2-analysis-ja-adande
[3] Yahoo Sports, K. Rhea. (2025). Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers, Game 2 Recap: Unstoppable SGA Leads Redemption. Retrieved from https://sports.yahoo.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-vs-indiana-pacers-game-2-recap-unstoppable-sga-leads-redemption-195550064.html
[4] SI.com, B. Williams. (2025). Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers, Game 2 Stat Scores, Turning Points and Key Takeaways. Retrieved from https://www.si.com/nba/2025/06/26/oklahoma-city-thunder-take-down-indiana-pacers-game-2-finals-statistics-takeaways
The Oklahoma City Thunder's victory in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals solidified their position in the basketball playoffs, as they took the match against the Indiana Pacers 123-107. In this thrilling series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), a standout player, continued his impressive form in both games, with a total of 72 points so far.
As the NBA season oscillates, it's key for teams like Oklahoma City to maintain their composure, learn from failures, and deliver victories, as they prepare for Game 3 on Thursday.
