Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized discipline and teamwork as key factors behind Sunday’s 123-107 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Speaking postgame, Gilgeous-Alexander underlined the importance of sustained intensity.
“You have to lock in and stay focused,” he said. “Even tonight we had some moments of slippage… to make it this far into the season it’s going to take a supreme level of focus to reach the ultimate goal.”
The Thunder erupted for a 19-2 second-quarter run that turned a tight game into a blowout. Gilgeous-Alexander credited the shift to their defense.
“We got stops. We ran. We capitalized on our opportunities,” he said. “I think we strung it together more often than we did in Game 1.”
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in the win, surpassing 3,000 points this season and becoming the 2025 postseason’s leading scorer. He also distributed eight assists, including several to hot-handed bench shooters like Aaron Wiggins.
Wiggins poured in 18 points, hitting five threes in 21 minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander praised the third-year wing’s consistency.
“No matter what, he finds a way to impact winning,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “For him to rise to the occasion and just be who he’s been… it’s pretty gutsy.”
With the Thunder racking up 25 assists and multiple players in double figures, the All-NBA guard credited the team’s rhythm and unselfishness.
“You try to attack the defense and just make the right play,” he explained. “We were a little bit sticky last game… but I think we did a good job with that—on both ends of the floor.”
Oklahoma City’s crowd played its part. Gilgeous-Alexander called the atmosphere “the loudest yet” and said it boosts their performance.
“It honestly makes the road games a little bit easier,” he said. “They’re special. The best fans in the world.”
Despite a historic personal scoring mark—his 72 combined points are the most ever in a player’s first two Finals games—Gilgeous-Alexander remained focused on the team’s goal.
“I would trade the points for two W’s,” he said. “You can’t go back in the past. You can only try to make the future better.”
He reiterated that every Finals matchup is a new challenge.
“Every game’s a reset,” he said. “It shows you that if you don’t stay in the moment… you can get beat and get beat pretty bad.”
The Thunder head to Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday with the series tied 1-1.