OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder’s suffocating defense proved too much for Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, as OKC evened the series 1-1 with a commanding 123-107 victory on Sunday night at Paycom Center.
Haliburton Struggles Against Physical Defense
After his heroic late-game performance in Game 1, Haliburton found himself neutralized by the Thunder’s aggressive defensive scheme. The Pacers’ star point guard managed 17 points and six assists, but most of his scoring came in garbage time during the fourth quarter when the game was already decided.
“They have a lot of guys who can guard the ball all around,” Haliburton admitted after the loss. “It feels like there are five guys around every time we’re in the paint.”
The Thunder’s defensive strategy was clear from the opening tip: make Haliburton work for every possession. They held him to just three points in the first quarter, setting the tone for a dominant performance that never allowed the Pacers to find their offensive rhythm.
Thunder’s Defensive Identity on Full Display
Oklahoma City’s defense, anchored by All-Defensive caliber players Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso, effectively took away the paint and forced Indiana into uncomfortable perimeter shots. The Thunder were willing to give up three-point attempts, particularly from the corners, but their length and athleticism disrupted the Pacers’ usual offensive flow.
“I think you have to pick your spots with the threes,” Haliburton explained. “We need to do a better job of getting downhill and just playing inside-out. They’re a team that really takes away the paint, does a great job of packing it in.”
Pacers Search for Offensive Solutions
Coach Rick Carlisle emphasized that the team’s struggles extended beyond just Haliburton’s individual performance, calling for a more collective effort from his entire roster.
“This game is about more than just scoring, so everyone has to do more,” Carlisle said. “It starts with our best players, with Tyrese and Pascal [Siakam] and Myles [Turner], and everything flows from there.”
The Pacers’ secondary scoring options failed to step up, with Pascal Siakam struggling to create his own offense, shooting just 3-of-13 from the field. This lack of secondary scoring made it easier for the Thunder to focus their defensive attention on Haliburton.
Physical Play and Officiating
The Pacers hinted at frustration with the physical nature of the game and the officiating, with Haliburton noting that the Thunder “are really physical, forcing the refs to let us play a little bit more.”
Myles Turner acknowledged the challenge of setting effective screens against the Thunder’s switching defense: “Screening is an art. You have to be able to position your guy. It’s about timing and being in sync with each other. There’s a lot we can do, but I don’t think we executed well enough.”
Looking Ahead to Game 3
As the series shifts to Indianapolis, the Pacers will need to find ways to get Haliburton cleaner looks and better spacing. The Thunder’s ability to switch seamlessly on defense and their depth of defensive talent presents a significant challenge.
“We had some success when I played off the ball, moving around, rather than playing on-ball where I feel like I’m really successful at that style of play,” Haliburton noted, suggesting potential adjustments for the home games.
The inconsistency in Haliburton’s playoff performances—brilliant games followed by struggles—highlights the difficulty of maintaining elite production against top-tier defenses. Game 3 will test whether the Pacers can make the necessary adjustments to regain control of the series on their home court.
With the series now even at 1-1, both teams head to Indianapolis knowing that home-court advantage could prove crucial in determining the eventual NBA champion.