Thunder even series as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 in 122-113 win over Spurs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put Oklahoma City back on level terms in the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night, scoring 30 points in a 122-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1 after dropping Game 1 in double overtime two nights earlier. Alex Caruso added 26 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein gave Oklahoma City 10 points and 13 rebounds in an expanded role. The series now shifts to San Antonio for Game 3. ### How did Oklahoma City respond after the Game 1 loss? Gilgeous-Alexander answered his uneven opener with a more efficient night in Game 2, finishing 12 of 24 from the floor with nine assists, according to Reuters. After Game 1, he said, “I have sucked when I get too long of a break,” adding that he needed to “do a better job with my breaks.” Mark Daigneault got the response he wanted from his team after Monday’s slow start. Reuters reported the Thunder never trailed after the first quarter, though San Antonio stayed within reach until the closing minutes. ### Which supporting players changed the game for the Thunder? (whbl.com) Alex Caruso gave Oklahoma City a major lift, scoring 26 points, while Hartenstein’s minutes jumped after he played only 12 minutes in Game 1, Reuters reported. Hartenstein finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes and was used more directly on Victor Wembanyama. (whbl.com) Daigneault said the Game 1 rotation “didn’t feel good,” and Reuters reported the Thunder opened Game 2 with Hartenstein on Wembanyama. “That’s the matchup, and so we decided to start with it,” Daigneault said. ### What changed in the matchup with Victor Wembanyama? Wembanyama followed his 41-point, 24-rebound performance in the opener with 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks in Game 2, according to Reuters. (whbl.com) Oklahoma City’s defense kept him from repeating the kind of scoring burst that swung the first game. Hartenstein was a key part of that adjustment. Reuters reported he picked up two fouls in the first three minutes but avoided deeper foul trouble and remained important on both ends, especially in the fourth quarter, when he had four points, eight rebounds and two assists. (whbl.com) ### When did San Antonio’s comeback chance slip away? San Antonio cut the deficit to five with a little more than a minute left, Reuters reported, and then got the ball back after Gilgeous-Alexander was called for an offensive foul. Devin Vassell missed a 3-pointer, and the possession ended with Stephon Castle’s ninth turnover of the game. (whbl.com) Gilgeous-Alexander then hit a step-back jumper, and Caruso followed with a driving layup with 19.7 seconds left to seal the result, according to Reuters. The Thunder had led by as many as 13 but still needed those final possessions to close it out. ### What does the schedule look like from here? (whbl.com) The series moves to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. CDT, according to the Spurs’ official schedule page. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, also in San Antonio. Oklahoma City and San Antonio split the first two games at Paycom Center. (whbl.com) With the series tied 1-1, the next two games will decide whether the Thunder regain home-court control or the Spurs take the edge before the series returns to Oklahoma City on May 26. (nba.com)