
Thunder cruise to commanding Game 2 win over Pacers to even NBA Finals
OKLAHOMA CITY — This has been Oklahoma City's formula all season: Lose one game, respond in the next.
That's exactly what the Thunder did in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, Alex Caruso added 20 off the bench and the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 123-107 on Sunday night to tie these finals at one game apiece.
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5 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempts a shot during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 8.
AP
5 Tyrese Haliburton looks to pass during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 8.
NBAE via Getty Images
Jalen Williams scored 19, Aaron Wiggins had 18 and Chet Holmgren finished with 15 for the Thunder. It was the franchise's first finals game win since the opener of the 2012 series against Miami.
'We did some things good tonight. We did some things bad,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'We've got to be able to get better and be ready for Game 3.'
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Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 for Indiana, which erased a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit in Game 1 but never made a push on Sunday. Myles Turner scored 16 and Pascal Siakam added 15 for the Pacers, the first team since Miami in 2013 to not have a 20-point scorer in the first two games of the finals.
5 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives with the ball during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 8.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Game 3 is Wednesday at Indianapolis, in what will be the first finals game in that city in 25 years.
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Gilgeous-Alexander's first basket of the night was a history-maker: It gave him 3,000 points on the season, including the regular season and playoffs. And later in Game 2, he passed New York's Jalen Brunson (514) as the leading overall scorer in these playoffs.
But the real milestone for the MVP came a couple hours later, when he and most everybody else on the Thunder got a finals win for the first time.
A 19-2 run in the second quarter turned what was a six-point game into a 23-point Thunder lead. It might have seemed wobbly a couple of times — an immediate 10-0 rebuttal by the Pacers made it 52-39, and Indiana was within 13 again after Andrew Nembhard's layup with 7:09 left in the third — but the Thunder lead was never in serious doubt.
5 Alex Caruso looks to shoot during the Thunder's Game 2 win June 8.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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5 Andrew Nembhard tumbles to the court with the ball during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 8.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With the noise level in the building often topping 100 decibels — a chainsaw is 110 dB, for comparison purposes — the Thunder did what they've done pretty much all season. They came off a loss, this time a 111-110 defeat in Game 1, and blew somebody out as their response.
Including the NBA Cup title game, which doesn't count in any standings, the Thunder are now 18-2 this season when coming off a loss. Of those 18 wins, 12 have been by double digits.

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Newsweek
35 minutes ago
- Newsweek
BetMGM Bonus Code NW150: Claim $150 US Open, NBA Finals Game 3 Promo
Use the BetMGM bonus code NW150 to get a $150 bonus offer or a $1,500 first bet safety net when you sign up for a new sportsbook account. You can redeem this promo on the NBA Finals, U.S. Open or any other market on BetMGM Sportsbook. Click here to start the registration process and claim this offer today. Place a winning $10 bet on the NBA Finals or U.S. Open in CO, MI, NJ, PA or WV to get $150 in bonus bets. Or get a $1,500 first bet if you are in another state. BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 For NBA Finals, U.S. Open BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 New User Offer Bet $10, Get $150 Bonus (CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV Only) $1,500 First-Bet Offer In-App Promos U.S. Open Odds Boost Token, Daily Boost Tokens, MLB Daily Swing, etc. Terms and Conditions 21+ and Present in Participating States Bonus Last Verified On June 11, 2025 Information Confirmed By Newsweek Sports Betting Staff The $1,500 first bet safety net is easy to use, so let's start with that. You can wager up to that amount knowing that BetMGM will give you your stake back if you lose. As an example, you could bet something like $1,000 on the Pacers moneyline for Game 3 of the NBA Finals. If the Pacers win, you will secure a large cash payout. If the Thunder win, you will receive that $1,000 stake back in the form of a bonus. If you get the $150 offer, you will have to place a winning $10 bet to secure the bonus bets. As an example, you might want to bet on a golfer for a particular round of the U.S. Open to make sure you have a good chance of getting the bonuses. This could be better than betting on the winner of the tournament, as it gives you less wait time, and you will have better odds of getting your $10 bet right. BetMGM In-App Offers For NBA Finals, U.S. Open Now is a good time to start up a new BetMGM Sportsbook account, as you will be able to capitalize on various in-app promos for the NBA Finals and U.S. Open. There are similar offers for both events. You can claim an odds boost token and a second-chance promotion for both sports. The odds boost tokens can be used for same game parlays, and the second-chance token gives you a chance to get your money back on a lost bet. Register With BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 To start the sign-up process, just click here or on any of our other links on this page. From there, you will want to enter the bonus code NW150 to secure the welcome offer. Enabling location settings on your device will ensure you secure the welcome offer you are eligible for. Use a secure payment method, like a credit card, to make an initial deposit that will cover your first wager with BetMGM. From there, all you need to do is follow the steps to take advantage of the welcome offer that you qualify for. Any bonuses you receive will expire one week after they are credited to your account. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.


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36 minutes ago
- Forbes
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