Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in a career-high 55 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 141-135 double-overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. The win gives the defending champions a 2-0 start after also needing extra time to beat Houston in their season opener.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached 50 points for the fifth time, tying Russell Westbrook for the most 50-point games in Thunder history. Ajay Mitchell contributed a career-best 26 points off the bench, while Aaron Wiggins added 23 points and nine rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein recorded 14 rebounds in the win.
The Thunder opened the second overtime with a decisive flurry, fueled by Gilgeous-Alexander. A late timeout was granted to Oklahoma City after a potential inbound steal by Obi Toppin, which helped set up the game-winning sequence.
For the Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds before fouling out in the first overtime. Pascal Siakam added 32 points and 15 rebounds. Indiana played without Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell, and Andrew Nembhard exited early with a sore left shoulder.
Despite key absences, Indiana stayed close throughout the contest. Neither team led by more than seven points in a game marked by 70 fouls and a technical foul on Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
The Pacers honored franchise matriarch Nancy Leonard, who passed away in September at age 93, before the national anthem. Leonard helped save the team with a telethon in 1977. Indiana also raised its Eastern Conference championship banner prior to tipoff.
Oklahoma City will travel to Atlanta on Saturday for their next game. Indiana begins a three-game road trip at Memphis on the same day.
