NBA Reacts to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Historic Game
NBA Reacts to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Historic Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as much of the nation, were shocked in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Thunder took a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter of that contest, only to fall apart and allow the Indiana Pacers to mount a comeback that was capped by Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning shot.
Advertisement
But in Game 2, the Thunder returned to form and made a sizable statement. They won, 123-107, to tie the best-of-seven series at one game apiece, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as usual, led the way.
He scored 34 points, to go along with eight assists, five rebounds, four steals and one block. It was his 11th game in this year's playoffs with at least 30 points and five assists, which tied a league record.
He's tied with Michael Jordan and LeBron James, the only other players to ever accomplish that feat.
Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA MVP recently after averaging a league-high 32.7 points a game during the regular season. He's much more than just a gunner -- he shot 51.9% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range during the regular season, and he has a refined skill set offensively from all three levels.
Advertisement
If America didn't previously notice his greatness or doubted that he's worthy of being the league MVP, it has noticed and acknowledged his greatness by now.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) makes a free throw as Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) looks on during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals.© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Still, Game 2 was a team win for Oklahoma City. The team went on a 19-2 run in the second quarter to take control, and unlike in Game 1, the Thunder never relinquished control.
Super sub Alex Caruso, who isn't known for his offense, scored 20 points off the bench, and reserve Aaron Wiggins chipped in 18 points.
As has been the case all season long, Oklahoma City won most prominently with defense. It held the high-scoring, fast-breaking Pacers to just 45.1% overall shooting while yielding only nine fast-break points.
Advertisement
Related: Magic Johnson Brings Back NBA Playoffs Claim After Pacers' Win
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Luka Doncic reacts to Don Nelson ripping Mavericks for trading him
Luka Doncic reacts to Don Nelson ripping Mavericks for trading him 127 days after the trade, former Mavs head coach Don Nelson discusses his Luka trade protest… with Luka's former coach Rick Carlisle right next to him — Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 (@MavsFilmRoom) June 8, 2025 Recently, during an NBA Finals press conference, Don Nelson was given the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years as a former NBA head coach. His head coaching career started in the 1976-77 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, and he spent 11 seasons there while guiding some very good and underrated teams. Today's fans perhaps know him best as the head coach of those Dallas Mavericks teams in the early 2000s that were among the first to play modern-day "pace and space" basketball. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 as a head coach. At the press conference, Nelson showed solidarity with the Mavericks franchise while protesting the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. He wore a pair of Doncic's sneakers and had the following message. "Luka, too, my dear friend, in fact, I want everybody to know I am wearing Luka's shoes, his new shoes from Nike," Nelson said. "Just got on the market. I'm wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas. I think it was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him -- and I want everybody to know that." Doncic, in turn, tweaked Nelson a bit with a post on Instagram. Luka with a message for former Mavs Head Coach Don Nelson on his IG story: 'Congratulations Coach! Nice shoes!' — Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 (@MavsFilmRoom) June 9, 2025 Before Nelson became a head coach, he had a successful 14-year playing career in the NBA. He actually spent two seasons early in his career with the Lakers, but he played 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, a franchise he won five world championships with in the 1960s and 1970s. His last coaching gig ended with the 2009-10 season when he was at the helm of the Golden State Warriors during Stephen Curry's rookie year.
CBS News
33 minutes ago
- CBS News
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier earns 2nd Player of the Week award this season
Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier has earned her second Western Conference Player of the Week award this season, adding another accolade to her MVP-level year. Collier's latest honor covers two Lynx games, during which she averaged 23 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2 steals and 1.5 blocks. She logged a double-double in each game. The 28-year-old forward was named the West's Player of the Week for the first four games of the season and Player of the Month for May. Collier leads the WNBA this season in points per game (25.5), steals per game (2.2), player efficiency rating (32.1) and win shares (2.4). Her play has the Lynx off to a 9-0 start, matching how the Lynx began their last championship season in 2017. Last season, Collier finished second in MVP voting behind the Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson. She's having another stellar season for the Aces, but if Collier continues at her current level of play, it'll be hard for voters to deny her the first MVP award of her career. Collier also made the All-WNBA First Team last year and was named Defensive Player of the Year amid the Lynx's surprising but ultimately unavailing run to the WNBA Finals. She also won a gold medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics. Since then, she's had a productive offseason. She was named the MVP of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 basketball league she co-founded, and TIME magazine listed her among its 100 Most Influential People.
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
Lee Corso's final ‘College GameDay' to come at Ohio State in Week 1
Lee Corso's final mascot headgear pick for 'College GameDay' will come at Ohio State, where it all began. ESPN's flagship college football show will go to Columbus, Ohio, in Week 1, where the Buckeyes will face Texas in what is expected to be a top-five matchup. ESPN said in April that the 89-year-old Corso would retire after Week 1 of the upcoming season, giving him a celebratory sendoff, but it did not name the location. There was some speculation the show could go to the Florida State-Alabama game, as Corso played at FSU in the 1950s alongside actor Burt Reynolds (and because Ohio State-Texas will be broadcast on Fox). 📍 Week 1: Columbus, OH We're kicking off College GameDay with a trip to Texas-Ohio State, as we celebrate Lee Corso's final show back where he first made headgear history! 🤩 — College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) June 10, 2025 But the show will send Corso off where the headgear picks began. While Corso has been on the show since its inception in 1987, his first mascot pick came at Ohio State in 1996 for the Buckeyes' game against Penn State. Corso has made 430 headgear picks, from Buckeyes to animals to helmets to full-on costumes. He's correctly picked 66.5 percent of those choices, according to ESPN, including a perfect 11-0 in 1999. Brutus Buckeye has been the most popular pick, chosen 45 times, with Alabama just behind at 38. 'When it was our game, I was always hoping he didn't pick us,' Nick Saban said in April, 'because I knew the players were watching and I wanted reverse rat poison.' Coach Lee Corso by the numbers 🤯 🐻 430 mascot headgear picks🏈 66.5% win rate of picks all-time🏆 Perfect season = 1999 More on LC's 38 years on @CollegeGameDay: — ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 17, 2025 'My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and 'College GameDay' for nearly 40 years,' Corso said in a news release in April. 'I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.'
