Oklahoma City Thunder don level di Western Conference final at 1-1 after dem beat San Antonio Spurs 122-113 for Game 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, wey win NBA MVP for second year, score game-high 30 points plus nine assists. Victor Wembanyama wey score 41 for Game 1, only get 21 points dis time.
Di game bin tight from start, with di first quarter ending 31-31. But Thunder move to 11-point lead by half-time. Spurs fight back to tie di game for third quarter and come within two points for fourth, but Thunder pull away each time. Gilgeous-Alexander talk say: ‘We bring di energy from di jump. We know wetin am mean if we lose dis one.’
Thunder frontcourt also show up for Game 2. Chet Holmgren drop 13 points on 50% shooting, while Isaiah Hartenstein wey bin struggle for Game 1, play solid defense against Wembanyama. Hartenstein limit Wembanyama to 21 points, half of im Game 1 output. Coach Mark Daigneault adjust di game plan to feature both big men together, wey help Thunder thrive.
Di series don attract plenty attention. Game 2 set NBA viewership record. Both teams finish with best regular-season records: Thunder 64-18, Spurs 62-20. Dis na di first time since 1998 NBA Finals wey two teams with at least 62 wins meet for playoffs. Thunder dey chase second straight championship, while Spurs dey aim for Finals behind Wembanyama, wey win Defensive Player of di Year.
Game 3 and 4 go hold for San Antonio on Friday and Sunday. Thunder go try steal game on di road. Gilgeous-Alexander say: ‘We get W, na all you fit ask for. Now we go on di road against really good team and go get one.’
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