Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is redefining what it means to debut on the NBA’s biggest stage. Through two games of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder star has scored a combined 72 points — the most by any player in their first two career NBA Finals appearances. He eclipsed the previous record of 71 points set by Allen Iverson during the 2001 Finals with the Philadelphia 76ers.

After pouring in 38 points in Game 1 and following with 34 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals in Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander has powered Oklahoma City to a 1–1 series split with the Indiana Pacers heading into Wednesday’s pivotal Game 3 in Indianapolis.

For Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, the star guard’s consistency under the brightest lights comes as no surprise.

“He just continues to progress and improve and rise to every occasion,” Daigneault said. “I thought his floor game tonight was really, really in a great rhythm. I thought everyone played better individually, and I thought we played better collectively. I think that was a by-product.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's All-Around Mastery

Game 2 was not only another chapter in Gilgeous-Alexander’s record-setting run, but a showcase of Oklahoma City’s collective firepower and defensive resolve.

The Thunder earned a commanding 123–107 victory, driven by a dominant second-quarter surge and a balanced offensive attack. Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points (11-of-21 FG, 11-of-12 FT), eight assists, five rebounds, four steals and a block — all while controlling the offense with his signature poise.

Even after reaching yet another milestone, Gilgeous-Alexander stayed grounded when asked about his performance and the larger goal at hand.

“I’m being myself. I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset,” he said. “Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far. Now, I would trade the points for two Ws, for sure. But this is where our feet are. This is where we are. You can’t go back in the past, you can only make the future better.”

Unlike Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander received significant help from his supporting cast. Five Thunder players scored at least 15 points — a rarity in Finals history. Alex Caruso added 20 points off the bench, Jalen Williams had 19 points, Aaron Wiggins contributed 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting from deep, and Chet Holmgren chipped in 15 points with six rebounds. The team collectively shot 87.7 percent from the free-throw line — among their best marks of the postseason — and improved their ball movement and pace.

After the bounce-back victory, Daigneault reflected on the resilience his team showed in the aftermath of the narrow Game 1 loss.

“I give the team a lot of credit. That’s a long 48 hours when you lose Game 1 like that,” Daigneault said. “The guys did a great job of just focusing on what we needed to do to stack to a win tonight.”

One of the night’s pivotal contributions came from Wiggins, who provided a spark off the bench after limited minutes in the opener. His readiness in a high-pressure moment drew praise from Gilgeous-Alexander, who values the depth and trust within the Thunder locker room.

“Yeah, big time. It’s impressive to me—he’s been exactly who he’s been all year throughout the playoffs,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Sometimes he gets 20 minutes, sometimes he gets two minutes. Sometimes he gets 10. It’s all over the place and no matter what, he finds a way to impact winning for us.”

Turning Point and Defensive Resolve

The defining stretch of Game 2 came in the second quarter. A 35-9 run — including a devastating 19-2 burst — transformed a six-point contest into a commanding 23-point Thunder lead. Williams helped ignite the momentum, while the Thunder defense tightened its grip on Indiana.

Holding Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton to just five points through three quarters was a major point of emphasis, and Oklahoma City’s defenders delivered. The Thunder limited Indiana’s potent offense to sub-40 percent shooting in the first half and continued to control the glass after losing the rebounding battle in Game 1.

Daigneault credited his players for staying aggressive even with a sizable cushion.

“I just thought we were the aggressor tonight for much of the game, even when we had a lead,” Daigneault said. “I thought the guys did a really good job of keeping the foot on the gas, especially defensively. I thought we really amped it up on that end of the floor.”

Gilgeous-Alexander echoed his coach’s sentiment, emphasizing the need for a complete effort across 48 minutes.

“You can’t just throw the first punch. You’ve got to try to throw all the punches all night—and that’s what we did. We threw enough punches tonight to get a W,” he said.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the pressure Oklahoma City applied, saying, “They did a good job being disruptive. They got out in transition. They were super aggressive, which is what they do.”

MVP-Level Leadership from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic brilliance places him in elite company. His 30+ points and 5+ assists in 11 playoff games this postseason put him alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James — the only players to match that level of production in a single postseason.

But Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to deflect individual praise, consistently highlighting the collective effort behind Oklahoma City’s run.

“We’ve been as close as you can be as a basketball team,” he said. “Guys are connected at the hip everywhere we go. We do everything together on and off the court. Above all, we prioritize winning and enjoy each other’s company.”

Holmgren, who bounced back from a tough Game 1 with 15 points and six rebounds, pointed to Gilgeous-Alexander’s decision-making as a catalyst for the team’s success.

“He does a really good job of making the right play when the defense forces him to,” Holmgren said. “He’s been creating a lot of good looks for everybody else on the floor.”

Williams, who finished with 19 points and made key plays on both ends, emphasized how much Gilgeous-Alexander’s trust empowers the team.

“When your best player is out there and he trusts you to make a play, it just gives you more confidence,” Williams said. “He understands that. That’s one of the roles he’s gotten really good at and grown at. It just makes our team better.”

Caruso, who scored 20 points off the bench and was part of the Thunder’s collective defensive effort, summed it up simply: “Tonight was a better representation of how we play.”

OKC Thunder Respond with Confidence

Sunday’s win marked Oklahoma City’s first Finals victory since 2012 — and a clear statement that the young Thunder, led by Gilgeous-Alexander, are poised to compete for a championship.

The Thunder’s resiliency remains a hallmark of their rise. Including the NBA Cup title game, Oklahoma City is now 18-2 this season when coming off a loss — with 12 of those victories coming by double digits.

As the series shifts to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday, the Thunder carry renewed confidence, knowing they are capable of adjusting and responding to adversity.

Gilgeous-Alexander, for his part, remained focused on the opportunity ahead.

“We did some things good tonight. We did some things bad,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to get better and be ready for Game 3.”