Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 Game 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave Oklahoma City the reset it needed in Game 2. The Thunder star scored 30 points on May 20, and Oklahoma City beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 at Paycom Center to even the Western Conference finals at 1-1. Gilgeous-Alexander added nine assists, and the Thunder answered a double-overtime loss in the opener with a cleaner, faster game on both ends. (foxsports.com) The score alone did not capture the shift. Oklahoma City forced 21 San Antonio turnovers and scored 27 points off them, according to the official box score, a sharp contrast from the Game 1 grind that the Spurs controlled late. (cbssports.com) The series now moves to Texas with the split Oklahoma City needed, but with new injury questions around Jalen Williams. ### How did Oklahoma City flip the game after the Game 1 loss? Oklahoma City changed the possession battle first. The Thunder forced 21 turnovers while committing nine of their own, and that gap created the extra chances that separated Game 2 from the opener. (foxsports.com) Oklahoma City turned those takeaways into 27 points, while San Antonio managed 10 points off Thunder turnovers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander changed the tone with efficiency. Yahoo’s live report said he shot 50% from the field after shooting 30.4% in Game 1, and he finished Game 2 at plus-14. He also hit a deep jumper in the final minute to help close out the win. (foxsports.com) ### Which Thunder players gave Gilgeous-Alexander help? Alex Caruso gave Oklahoma City 17 points off the bench, according to the Associated Press game report. Chet Holmgren scored 13 points, and reserves Jared McCain and Cason Wallace added 12 each as the Thunder spread the scoring load beyond their leading scorer. (foxsports.com) Isaiah Hartenstein also gave Oklahoma City a stronger interior presence. Sportsnet reported Hartenstein had 10 points and 13 rebounds after playing only limited minutes in Game 1, helping the Thunder respond physically after the double-overtime opener. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What did San Antonio still do well in the loss? San Antonio still scored efficiently in stretches. The Spurs shot 48.8% from the field and made 16 of 40 3-point attempts, according to the box score, but the turnover total undercut that shot-making. Oklahoma City shot 47.9% overall, so the margin came less from accuracy than from volume and transition chances. (usnews.com) Victor Wembanyama remained central to the matchup after his Game 1 performance, but Game 2 did not become another Spurs-controlled late-game script. CBS Sports said Oklahoma City’s response was built in part on San Antonio’s turnovers and a stronger effort against Wembanyama-led actions. (sportsnet.ca) ### Why is Jalen Williams now part of the story? Jalen Williams left in the first half with left hamstring tightness and did not return. ESPN’s injury report, reflected in other coverage, said he is set for an MRI after the game. Williams had already missed six games earlier in the playoffs with a strained left hamstring, according to NBA.com and KSAT. (foxsports.com) Dylan Harper also exited for San Antonio with a hamstring issue, adding another health concern to a series that already included De’Aaron Fox’s absence. ESPN’s broader playoff coverage said Fox missed his second straight game with a right high ankle sprain suffered in the previous round. (cbssports.com) ### What changes before the series resumes? Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in San Antonio after the teams split the first two games in Oklahoma City. CBS Sports and Yahoo both reported the series shifts south tied 1-1, with the next immediate developments likely to come from injury testing on Williams and Harper. (msn.com) (cbssports.com) (ksat.com)