The Oklahoma City Thunder took Game 2 from the San Antonio Spurs, 122-113, on Wednesday to even the Western Conference finals at a game apiece before the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday.
SGA's MVP Response
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was presented with his second straight MVP trophy prior to Game 1 and proceeded to get his shine stolen by Victor Wembanyama as San Antonio's defense put the collective clamps on him. The script flipped in Game 2, with Wemby putting forth a more pedestrian effort and SGA controlling the game from the start.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting. He attacked quickly more often than he did in Game 1, before San Antonio could settle into the wall they'd been building in front of him.
Game-Winning Shot Analysis
In Game 1, when SGA opted to drive to Wemby's side and actually try to pull up over him, he either got the shot blocked or he missed. In Game 2, nearly the same exact shot went in.
Of his 12 makes, only two came at the rim. The Spurs once again forced him into a heavy diet of contested jumpers by cutting off his driving lanes with multiple bodies and Wembanyama backing it all up. The only difference is that this time, they went in.
Turnover Cost
Some turnovers are going to be baked into the recipe of playing against the ultra-physical and aggressive Thunder defense.
The Spurs got away with it in Game 1, when they turned the ball over 23 times for 28 OKC points but still found a way to win in double overtime. They weren't so fortunate in Game 2, when they committed 21 turnovers that directly led to 27 OKC points.
Do the math: The Spurs have fumbled the ball away 44 times in this series through two games.