Latest news with #AaronWiggins
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans react to Thunder's revenge win vs. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
The post Fans react to Thunder's revenge win vs. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder have evened the NBA Finals at one game apiece with a dominant 123–107 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 at Paycom Center. Just days after a heartbreaking collapse in the opener, the Thunder bounced back with urgency and purpose. They thrilled the home crowd with a wire-to-wire win. This time, they held firm and avoided the late-game mistakes that cost them in Game 1. Advertisement As a result, fans quickly took to social media, expressing praise, relief, and renewed hope after the emphatic performance. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton, who nailed the game-winner in Game 1, faced heavy criticism online. One fan even compared him to Ben Simmons, citing his lack of impact. Haliburton finished with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-8 from deep. In addition, he added three rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks. Nevertheless, despite the decent numbers, fans expected more from Indiana's star in a crucial game. On the other hand, Aaron Wiggins earned widespread praise for his spark off the bench. 'Aaron Wiggins was huge for OKC tonight,' one fan posted. In response to the team's early lead, Wiggins delivered 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed four rebounds in just 21 minutes of action. Clearly, his energy helped maintain Oklahoma City's momentum. Following the win, celebratory posts flooded social media. One fan quipped, 'The devil doesn't work on Sundays,' referencing the team's strong weekend performance. Furthermore, another boldly declared, 'OKC doesn't lose back-to-back games,' highlighting the Thunder's postseason resilience. Overall, the mood shifted dramatically in Oklahoma City's favor. Oklahoma City outperformed Indiana in nearly every statistical category in Game 2. The Thunder shot more efficiently from the field (48.8%) and the free-throw line (87.9%), while also outrebounding the Pacers 43–35 and forcing more points off turnovers (17). Advertisement They controlled the paint with a 42–34 edge and led by as many as 23 points, never letting the game slip. In contrast, Indiana shot 45.1% from the field and 35.0% from deep, but their 15 turnovers, lower free-throw efficiency (73.1%), and limited control, never leading by more than three, reflected their struggles throughout the night. In summary, the Thunder combined efficient shooting, aggressive defense, and key bench contributions to take control of Game 2. With the series now tied, all eyes turn to Indiana, where Game 3 promises to be a pivotal showdown. Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 'best fans' revelation that fuel Game 2 win Related: Thunder HC Mark Daigneault drops truth bomb on 'acquired taste' of playing Pacers
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder's Aaron Wiggins breaks Tyrese Haliburton's ankles with sick crossover
The post Thunder's Aaron Wiggins breaks Tyrese Haliburton's ankles with sick crossover appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers as a team not just on a mission to level the series but also to seek retribution for the painful loss they suffered at the hands of the visitors in Game 1. Advertisement The Thunder made a big statement in the first half of Sunday night's game at Paycom Center, as they built an 18-point lead by the end of the second quarter. Three of the 59 points Oklahoma City racked up in the first half came from this great move from Thunder shooting guard Aaron Wiggins, who embarrassed Haliburton with a shifty step-back move before finishing the sequence with a splash from behind the arc. That move by Wiggins got people buzzing on social media. 'Aaron Wiggins just fried Haliburton😭😭,' posted a fan on X (formerly Twitter). 'Haliburton got caught slipping lol Wiggins had em 🛼 for a sec lol,' shared another fan. Advertisement From another X user: 'Haliburton getting smoked by Aaron Wiggins. This guy is a bad player that gets lucky breaks' Others have also gave Richard Jefferson his flowers over his call on that move by Wiggins on Haliburton. 'Aaron Wiggins shining brighter than Haliburton! 🔥 And Richard Jefferson dropping poetic gems on the mic—can't stop laughing 😂 This game just got way more entertaining!' commented a social media user. 'Aaron Wiggins saw what Andrew Nembhard did to Shai and figured now was the time to mix Tyrese Haliburton in retaliation!' said another. Wiggins had a mediocre outing in Game 1, as he only scored three points on two shots from the field through nine minutes of action. But in Game 2, the Thunder appeared to give him an expanded role, as he's among the contest's biggest surprises. Advertisement A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Wiggins had eight points with a pair of 3-pointers and was a plus-17 in the first half of Game 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will always have the attention of Indiana's defense, but guys like Wiggins stepping up make it easier for the Thunder to operate on offense. Wiggins, selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft by Oklahoma City, finished Game 2 with 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting with five 3-pointers. Wiggins entered Game 2 averaging just 5.9 points in 16 games in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Related: Thunder's Jalen Williams names 2 qualities that make Alex Caruso a great defender Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander opens up about 'punches thrown' in Game 2 win
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Aaron Wiggins shines in Thunder's Game 2 win over Pacers to even 2025 NBA Finals
Aaron Wiggins shines in Thunder's Game 2 win over Pacers to even 2025 NBA Finals Sporting an Aaron Wiggins shirt in his pregame warmups, Jalen Williams looked like Nostradamus four hours later. Sometimes you need your role players to get hot to secure a playoff win. The Oklahoma City Thunder received that in bunches in Game 2. Wiggins was another top contributor. He finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, four rebounds and one assist. He shot 5-of-8 from 3 and went 1-of-2 on free throws. He also had a steal. The Thunder evened the 2025 NBA Finals at 1-1 with a 123-107 Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers. It was another must-win scenario that the title favorite aced. That's been a common theme these playoffs. It was obvious from the start that Wiggins would feel himself. After he first checked in, he spun around Siakam and banked the ball for a layup. That made cashing in on his outside attempts look easy. The Thunder's outside barrage put the Pacers behind on the scoreboard. "He was huge tonight. I give him a lot of credit because he was a huge part of our success this season and in the playoffs, his role has been variant night to night. But he hangs in there," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said about Wiggins. "He was huge in the Game 4 win at Denver, in that series. He was massive tonight. Went in there with great confidence. Didn't go until the second quarter and dove right into the game." Despite an inconsistent role, Wiggins continues to be a positive. The Thunder needed his shot-creation. He was another bench player who stepped up and fed off the home crowd in a must-win situation. "Obviously, you're not going to like the downside to low minutes or not playing consistently a lot every night. But it's the NBA. There's a lot of highs and lows," Wiggins said on his inconsistent role. "There's a lot of other guys going through similar things and guys who have just kind of earned their rights. Understanding that I'm still blessed to be in the NBA and do what I love. At this level, you can't take it for granted."
New York Times
17 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Thunder flex their depth around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They'll need that to continue
OKLAHOMA CITY — Aaron Wiggins is a distant eighth on the Oklahoma City Thunder in total minutes during these NBA playoffs. He was briefly pulled from the rotation during the Western Conference finals. He typically doesn't enter the game until the start of the second quarter, and if he doesn't provide a near-immediate spark, he doesn't see the court for too long. He only received nine minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Advertisement Thunder coach Mark Daigneault first went to Wiggins in Game 2 with 15.2 seconds left in the first quarter. It was a chance to get Wiggins' shooting on the floor for an extra late-quarter offensive possession and warm him up for his upcoming run. With Wiggins spaced in the right corner, Chet Holmgren swooped in for a finger roll to put the Thunder up six. This was the beginning of a run that gave Oklahoma City complete control for the entirety of their 123-107 Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers, evening these NBA Finals at 1-1. Wiggins made a leaning 10-footer on the first possession of the second quarter. He hit a stepback 3 four minutes later. Daigneault left Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench for five straight second-quarter minutes, and the Thunder expanded their lead by nine. Daigneault left a hot Wiggins on the floor, and he responded with five 3s and 18 points in 21 minutes, his most since the playoff opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder won during his court time by 24 points. 'Sometimes it's 20 minutes, sometimes two minutes, sometimes he gets 10,' Gilgeous-Alexander said of Wiggins. 'It's all over the place. But no matter what, he finds a way to impact winning for us.' Wiggins' expanded role was only part of the Thunder's subtle and ultimately successful adjustments from the finals opener. They started the same way, leaning small against the quicker Pacers, but went to their double-big lineup of Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein for the first time in the series late in the first quarter. After giving up an immediate 3, they had a plus-six spurt together. Daigneault appears wary to play both centers together when Myles Turner is on the floor as part of a five-out Indiana look, but when Thomas Bryant enters, the Thunder's staff sees a better environment to attack bigger. Advertisement 'I always love playing with Hart,' Holmgren said. 'Especially when he's throwing lobs up to me.' The two centers combined for maybe the Thunder's highlight of the night, a late third-quarter pick-and-roll where Gilgeous-Alexander drew two defenders and dumped it over to a diving Hartenstein, who lobbed it over Bryant's head to Holmgren for a tomahawk dunk. Holmgren had a significantly better performance than in the opener. He only made two of his nine Game 1 shots and was limited to 24 minutes. Daigneault opted to close without him on the floor, a possible mistake in retrospect, considering what happened. But Holmgren made Daigneault's decision to keep him on the floor more often in Game 2 by bringing a level of offensive assertiveness. Holmgren was upset with himself for his rushed, soft finishing on Thursday night and corrected that on Sunday. He had nine points in the first quarter and finished with 15 on 6-of-11 shooting. 'You have to have a level of care,' Holmgren said when asked if his frustration fueled his response. 'If you're just like, whatever, I don't think that's good. I'd say I have a good middle ground of not getting overly emotional but also caring enough to try and always be better next game.' As the series shifts to Indianapolis, the double-big lineup still appears to be only a minor part of Daigneault's plan. Hartenstein and Holmgren played five minutes together and were a plus-four. But both centers were impactful separately against a Pacers team that generates uncomfortable situations for bigs. 'They were both really good in both situations,' Daigneault said. 'One area where we improved tonight was our pick-and-roll coverage against their bigs. They're a different look because of the rolling, the popping, just the way they play. They both were great. I thought Chet, in particular, had a rough offensive night in Game 1. As always, he rose back up and was really, really good.' Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander had a far more efficient night. After needing 30 shots for his 38 points in Game 1, he went for a smoother 34 points on 11-of-21 shooting and 11 of 12 from the line. He had eight assists and four steals, outplaying Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who left the arena limping. But the Thunder kept control of this game when Gilgeous-Alexander rested, showcasing that star-plus-depth combination that boosted them to 68 wins this season. They won the 36 Gilgeous-Alexander minutes by five points and the 12 minutes he rested by 11 points. The five-man unit of Alex Caruso (who had 20 points), Jalen Williams, Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Hartenstein was particularly effective. 'We've played that lineup a lot through the playoffs,' Caruso said. 'Mark went back to it because we've had a lot of success. Me and Cason do a good job of mixing it up with whoever is the lead guard. Dub has great hands. We have a versatility in the lineup. It lets Wigs get a little bit loose, too.' The Thunder will fly to Indianapolis on Monday afternoon, readying for Tuesday's practice and media circus before a Wednesday and Friday two-game crack at taking back control of a series they let slip in the opener. They are 4-3 on the road in these playoffs. They'll need their depth to show up again. 'No one-man show can win an NBA championship,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. (Photo of Aaron Wiggins: Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Aaron Wiggins ‘saved basketball': OKC star's Game 2 show steals SGA's thunder in NBA Finals
Aaron Wiggins stole the show as the Oklahoma City Thunder rebounded from a close Game 1 loss on Sunday, beating the Indiana Pacers 123-107 to level the NBA Finals series at 1-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander however, maintained his dominance. The reigning MVP scored 34 points, setting up Wednesday's Game 3 in Indianapolis. Gilgeous-Alexander added eight assists and five rebounds and went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line. OKC's win comes after they let a 15-point fourth-quarter slip away in Game 1. Read More: Is Tyrese Haliburton injured? Pacers fans ask star guard to 'wake up' in NBA Finals Game 2 vs OKC Fans were quick to praise Wiggins, saying the OKC star 'saved basketball'. The 26-year-old, coming off the bench, managed 18 points and four rebounds. The phrase 'Aaron Wiggins saved basketball' began as a humorous meme during the 2022–23 season, possibly tied to his college days at Maryland or OKC's play-in run. A viral clip showed a fan thanking Wiggins, who deadpanned, 'I'm literally just Aaron Wiggins'. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Thunder took the lead for good late in the first quarter, and early in the second quarter stretched their lead to 23 with a 19-2 run -- fueled by both their defense and Gilgeous-Alexander's finishes on the other end. Read More: Tyrese Haliburton claps back with brutal comeback after NBA Finals heroics, sheds 'most overrated' label Indiana quickly answered with a 10-0 run for a 52-39 score but never got closer than that 13-point deficit. SGA said the Thunder's defensive effort laid down the foundation of the win. "We just know with them, that's where it starts -- they're a high-powered offense," the Canadian star said. "They play fast, score a bunch of points and if you don't get stops, you're running all the game and they can beat you that way," added Gilgeous-Alexander.
