May 21 (UPI) — Coach Mark Daigneault’s plan to uncage Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paid off, triggering an Oklahoma City Thunder win over the San Antonio Spurs and tying the Western Conference finals at 1-1.
The All-NBA guard, who received his second NBA MVP Award on Monday, totaled 30 points, nine assists, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal in the 122-113 Game 2 victory Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who shot just 30.4% in Game 1, responded with a 50% shooting clip in Game 2, while morphing into the gasoline fueling the Thunders’ offensive engine. He scored 15 points in each half.
“I was saying we have to do a better job of getting him in advantageous situations and I thought we did that with the way we ran offense,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “And he played better. That part too. I thought we all played better.
“I had a quiet confidence about that.”
Like in Game 1, the Spurs outshot the Thunder in Game 2 — 48.8% to 47.9%. But the Thunder dished out 34 assists against just nine turnovers, compared to the visitors’ 22 to 21 ratio.
The Spurs turnovers led to 27 Thunder points. The Thunder bench also outscored the Spurs’ reserve unit 57-25.
“We just did a better job of attacking them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “In the first game, I still feel like we got really good looks. They just didn’t go down. We just got a little more comfortable with their type of defense. Obviously, it’s very unique and different from literally every other defense in the league, so it takes some getting used to.
“But we are still going to have to keep getting better throughout the series if we want a chance to win the series.”
The Thunder led by as many as 13 points, but the game featured 14 lead changes. Veteran guard Alex Caruso scored 17 points off the Thunder bench. He scored 10 in the second half.
Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein, who scored two points and played just 12:10 in Game 1, responded with a 10-point, 13-rebound effort in Game 2.
“It’s all in the scouting,” said Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who recorded 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and a steal. “I have to trust the scouting. We have to trust it and do our work early.
“It’s straight effort.”
Stephon Castle totaled 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds, but logged nine turnover in the loss. Fellow guard Dylan Harper scored 12 points, but exited early due to a right leg injury.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson did not provide an update on Harper — who was in the starting lineup in place of injured guard De’Aaron Fox — in his postgame news conference.
Spurs forward Devin Vassell chipped in 22 points, with 17 in the second half of the loss.
“We will take the W, but we’ve got to keep getting better,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
The Spurs (1-1) will host the Thunder (1-1) in Game 3 at 8:30 p.m. EDT Friday in San Antonio. They will host Game 4 on Sunday at Frost Bank Center. Game 5 will be held Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
