Thunder tie series behind SGA's 30, 57-point bench
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting with nine assists and one turnover, rebounding from a 7-of-23 Game 1 performance against the Spurs' rim protection
- Oklahoma City Thunder outscored the San Antonio Spurs 57-25 in bench points, matching their franchise playoff high since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008
- Thunder reserves recorded 11 of the team’s 14 steals and helped convert 21 Spurs turnovers into 27 points, the fifth time in nine playoff wins this season they’ve scored at least 27 off turnovers
- Isaiah Hartenstein played 27 minutes in Game 2 after logging only 12 in Game 1, finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and eight offensive boards while frequently guarding Victor Wembanyama
- Victor Wembanyama was held to 21 points and 10 paint points after scoring 26 in the paint in Game 1, as Hartenstein served as the final defender on 47 of his plays compared to three in the opener
- Jalen Williams exited Game 2 in the first quarter due to left hamstring tightness, jeopardizing his availability for the remainder of the series
Why it matters: The Thunder’s ability to deploy deep, physical bench play and adjust their defensive scheme around Hartenstein changes the series dynamics — giving them a replicable formula to counter Wembanyama’s dominance, while Williams’ injury introduces a tangible risk to their wing depth in upcoming road games.
