Following a major upset loss during their opener to the NBA Finals, the OKC Thunder stormed back with vengeance in Sunday's Game 2 by blowing out the Pacers by a final score of 123-107.
With their elite defensive efforts that forced Indiana into a troublesome 15 turnovers and overall tremendous scoring performance that saw them become the first team since the 2019 Raptors to have five players drop 15 or more points in a single Finals game, Oklahoma City reminded everyone of just how lethal they are on both ends of the floor.
Likewise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander jogged everyone's memory of how legendary of a run he currently finds himself on during this 2024-25 campaign, as the league MVP claimed yet another all-time record with his on-court efforts, this time usurping arguably the greatest pound-for-pound player in NBA history, Allen Iverson, in the process.
Thunder star bumps Iverson for most points in first 2 NBA Finals games
As a result of his 34-point finish to Game 2, SGA has now set the record for most points ever scored by a player in their first two career NBA Finals games with 72.
He officially surpassed the previous record-holder, Iverson, and his 71 points from back during the 2001 title-round face-off between the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers.
For those who have been following the 26-year-old throughout the season, though still highly impressive, the Thunder star accomplishing such a feat should come as little surprise.
After leading the league in points per game throughout the regular season with 32.7 a night, Gilgeous-Alexander has found his top-billed production flowing seamlessly through this year's electrifying playoff run.
Heading into Sunday's contest, he boasted the second-highest average scoring mark through 18 games played with 30.4.
Now, with his consecutive 30-plus scoring performances over these initial two games of the NBA Finals, the Thunder star has officially become just the 12 player in the game's history to score 3,000 or more points in both the regular season and playoffs combined.
He has also tied Wilt Chamberlain for the longest streak of consecutive home games (nine) with 30 or more points scored.
Though Oklahoma City undoubtedly sports the deepest rotation the league has to offer, it is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who truly makes this team otherworldly.
Behind his history-setting scoring performance along with 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and a block, the Thunder have officially gotten themselves back in this best-of-seven series, as they are all knotted up with the Pacers at one win apiece, with a two-game stint out in Indiana right on the horizon.