NBA playoffs: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounces back as Thunder even series with Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points after a weak series opener, while Alex Caruso added 17 points off the bench. Chet Holmgren finished with 13 points, and reserves Jared McCain and Cason Wallace each scored 12. Oklahoma City held a 57-25 edge in bench scoring and a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers. The Thunder focused on making life difficult for Victor Wembanyama to limit outbursts. The Spurs were led by Stephon Castle with 25 points, Devin Vassell with 22, and Wembanyama with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. Jalen Williams left the game in the first half with a hamstring recurrence, creating uncertainty for Game 3 in San Antonio.

"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back from a subpar series opener to score 30 points, Alex Caruso added 17 off the bench and the host Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. Chet Holmgren scored 13 points and reserves Jared McCain and Cason Wallace each had 12 for Oklahoma City. The Thunder finished with a 57-25 edge in bench scoring, plus a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers."

"The Thunder playbook in Game 2 was about making life as difficult as possible for Wembanyama, hoping to prevent outbursts like the 41-point, 24-rebound gem he put together in San Antonio's 122-115 win in Game 1. Every good player, they have to feel the defense, Gilgeous-Alexander said. It's tough. He's very different to scout. You've got to try to mix things up, you've got try different things. And that's just what we did. Coach tried something in the first game, didn't like it, tried something else. That's what it's about."

"Steph on Castle scored 25 points for the Spurs, who got 22 points from Devin Vassell and a 21-point, 17-rebound, six-assist, four-block night from Victor Wembanyama. Game 3 is Friday in San Antonio. The guys brought it tonight, said Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named the league MVP for the second straight season. Knowing what it would have meant if we lost this one, we brought the energy from the jump."

"The win was not without cost for the Thunder, who lost guard Jalen Williams in the first half with a recurrence of a hamstring issue. He had already missed six games in these playoffs with a left hamstring strain. The Thunder said it was tightness, but even that would figure to put his availability for Friday into doubt."

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