Thunder go up 2-0

Oklahoma City is halfway through this series after a 120-107 win over Phoenix in Game 2 on Wednesday, April 22, at Paycom Center. (apnews.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 37 points and nine assists, while Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 10 rebounds. Phoenix got 30 points from Dillon Brooks, but the Suns trailed 65-57 at halftime and never erased the gap. (espn.com) The Thunder opened the series with a 119-84 win on Sunday, April 19, so the first two games in Oklahoma City ended with margins of 35 and 13 points. The series now shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 on Saturday, April 25. (espn.com) (cardswire.usatoday.com) Oklahoma City entered the playoffs as the West’s No. 1 seed after a 64-18 regular season and a 34-7 home record. Phoenix came in at 45-37 after reaching the bracket as the No. 8 seed. (espn.com) (azcentral.com) That seeding has shown up on the floor. Oklahoma City has scored 239 points across two games, while Phoenix has scored 191, and the Thunder have kept control of the series without needing a last-possession finish in either game. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The matchup also carries the weight of Oklahoma City’s title defense. The Thunder are the reigning NBA champions, and Gilgeous-Alexander has opened this series with 25 points in Game 1 and 37 in Game 2. (espn.com) (apnews.com) Phoenix still has a path back if it can use the home games to reset the series, but the Suns now need four wins in the next five games. Oklahoma City needs two more. (cardswire.usatoday.com)