NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder get past Spurs, level series 1-1

Oklahoma City, OK – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and handed out nine assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 122-113 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday. The win tied the series at one game apiece ahead of Game 3 in San Antonio on Friday.

After struggling in Game 1, shooting just 7 of 23 from the field, Gilgeous-Alexander was much more efficient in Game 2, connecting on 12 of 24 shots. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama had 21 points and 17 rebounds after his dominant 41-point, 24-rebound performance in the double-overtime win in Game 1. Stephon Castle led the Spurs on Wednesday with 25 points.

Oklahoma City led by two early in the fourth quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander returned to the court after a nearly three-minute break. The Thunder immediately went on an 11-0 run. While Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t score during the stretch, he created opportunities for his teammates. Cason Wallace and Jared McCain opened the run with back-to-back 3-pointers, both assisted by Isaiah Hartenstein.

Hartenstein, who played just 12 minutes in Game 1 as the Thunder relied more on Alex Caruso and Wallace, played a key role in Game 2. With just over four minutes remaining, he grabbed two crucial rebounds in quick succession, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes despite early foul trouble.

The Spurs cut the deficit to five with 1:25 left before Gilgeous-Alexander was called for an offensive foul on Castle. Devin Vassell missed a 3-point attempt at the other end, and Castle committed his ninth turnover of the game. Gilgeous-Alexander then hit a step-back jumper, and Caruso added a driving layup after another Castle miss to seal the win. Oklahoma City scored 27 points off San Antonio’s 21 turnovers.

Both teams dealt with injuries during the game. Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell, who had taken on a larger role this season due to injuries to Jalen Williams, went down with a right leg injury with 1:01 remaining. Williams, who scored 26 points in Game 1 following a six-game absence due to a left hamstring issue, left the game late in the first quarter with left hamstring tightness and did not return.

The Spurs, already without starting point guard De’Aaron Fox due to a sore right ankle, lost rookie guard Dylan Harper in the third quarter to a right leg injury. Harper had been a standout performer in Game 1.

Caruso contributed 17 points off the bench to support Oklahoma City’s effort.

—Field Level Media/Reuters