Starting 5, June 8: What’s at stake in Game 2 of NBA Finals (8 ET, ABC)

Names on the back. Title on the line.

Game 2 of the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV tips off tonight (8 ET, ABC).

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June 8, 2025

Game 2 In 2 Minutes: The stakes, the star showdown, Indy’s rally & OKC’s response

Maple Matchup: SGA & Nembhard’s childhood roots lead a Canadian-filled Finals

What They’re Saying: OKC ready to rebound, Indy staying in ‘the moment’

On The Ground In OKC: Chet’s favorite teammate, Canadian tuxedos & a Wade-worthy winner

Unforgettable: The Finals shot that still lives with creator and coach Coleman Ayers

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1. GAME 2 IN 2 MINUTES: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Pacers led for just 0.3 seconds in Game 1 of the NBA Finals – yet they enter Sunday’s Game 2 (8 ET, ABC) with a 1-0 series lead.

OKC and Indy own the top two win percentages since Jan. 1 (reg+post) and neither team has lost a Game 2 all Playoffs. None have been bigger than tonight’s, as each city seeks its first NBA title.

• The Stakes For Indy: The Pacers aim to become just the third team ever to win both Games 1 & 2 of the Finals on the road, joining the ’93 Bulls and the ‘95 Rockets – both of whom went on to win it all
• The Stakes For OKC: While no team has won the Finals after dropping Games 1 & 2 at home, teams that split the first two games in their own building have a 27-12 all-time series record (69.2%)

Superstar Showdown: In a matchup between two electrifying young guards, both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton had their fingerprints all over Game 1, resulting in an instant classic.

• Shai Shines: This year’s Kia NBA MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander dropped a game-high 38 points – the second-most in a Finals debut in the last 50 years behind only Allen Iverson (48)
• Hali Plays Hero (Again): But it was Haliburton who called game, drilling the go-ahead bucket with 0.3 left to cap a 15-point 4th-quarter comeback

Captain Clutch: Haliburton is now 5-for-5 this postseason on go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final 15 seconds of the 4th quarter or overtime. The rest of the NBA combined is 4-for-25.

• Never Out Indy: The winner marked Indy’s fifth 15+ point comeback this postseason — the most ever in a single Playoff run in the play-by-play era

Built To Bounce Back: The Thunder haven’t taken back-to-back losses in over two months – and they’ve made a habit of responding with force.

• OKC Answers: The Thunder own an NBA-best 16-2 record following losses this season, including a 4-0 mark in the Playoffs
• Storm Surge: In those four wins, OKC has outscored its opponents by 20.5 ppg, with SGA averaging 33.5 points
• Familiar Territory: That includes dropping Game 1 at home to Denver in the West Semis, before a 43-point win in Game 2
• “The series isn’t first to one, it’s first to four,” said SGA after Thursday’s loss. “We gotta get to four before they get to three if we want to win the NBA championship.”

The Scoop: After an epic Game 1, the Finals buzz is only growing for Game 2. Here are a few of our favorite reads from around the NBA world.

• The Athletic: Haliburton hit the dagger, but Andrew Nembhard kept the Pacers alive long enough to make it count
• AP: Welcome to the Comeback Playoffs, led by the Indiana Pacers
• The Indy Star: Haliburton’s historic 2025 NBA Playoff run has been borderline impossible
• Andscape: Both markets bringing big passion in an OKC-Indy Finals

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2. CANADIAN CONNECTION: FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE FINALS

Last summer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Andrew Nembhard were teammates, representing Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Now, they’re chasing a different kind of gold – the Larry O’Brien Trophy – as opponents.

But their connection runs deeper than hardware, having shared the hardwood since they were kids – all the way up to the game’s biggest stage.

• “I’ve played against Andrew since I was nine years old,” said SGA ahead of Game 1. “It’s been an amazing journey … It’s hard to even wrap your head around.”

That shared history made for a unique and intense Game 1 matchup.

• Head To Head: Nembhard spent over eight minutes guarding SGA — five more than any other Pacer — checking him for 76.5% of possessions when they shared the floor
• During that time, both players made their presence felt: SGA scored eight points, but Nembhard held him to 33.3% shooting and two turnovers
• On the other end, Shai checked Nembhard for over three minutes, limiting him to zero points — until he hit a clutch triple with 1:59 left to pull Indy within three
• The two didn’t shy away from mixing it up either, with a little nudging and jawing – reminders of what the Finals mean, even for lifelong friends
• “Nothing more than two guys wanting to win,” SGA said on the extracurriculars. “No malicious intent behind it, just wanting to win.”

Guarding Greatness: Despite Nembhard’s efforts, SGA finished with his 12th 30-piece this postseason, a feat only 10 other players have achieved in a single Playoff run – Giannis, Kawhi, LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, AI, MJ, Hakeem, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West.

But Nembhard isn’t backing down – and both his coach and Shai know it.

• “He loves the challenge,” said Rick Carlisle yesterday on Nembhard guarding SGA. “They’ve probably played a lot with and against each other over the years…
• “But this is the ultimate challenge – against a guy like him who’s the MVP. Just so skilled. So quick. Bigger than you think … there’s no breaks.”
• “He’s a competitor,” added SGA on Nembhard. “Plays the game the right way on both ends of the floor. Really good player. He’s a winner for sure.”

The Canadian connection doesn’t stop there. Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin and OKC’s Lu Dort grew up just minutes apart in Montreal. Dort also played alongside SGA and Nembhard in the Olympics, adding another layer to a Canadian-filled Finals.

• “To see [Andrew] having success … my own success, Lu’s success, Ben’s success – it’s special,” said SGA. “There’s so many kids that played in the same games that we played, and for us to make it to this stage … it’s been a blessing.”

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3. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: OKC READY TO RESPOND, INDY STAYING IN THE MOMENT

Eighty.

That’s how many wins the Thunder have collected in 99 games this season.

Only 14 other teams in NBA history have reached that total. And OKC still has room for four more.

The key? A short memory and a steady mindset. Whether bouncing back from a rare loss or resetting after a thriller, the Thunder don’t dwell – they learn.

• “I let the game go as soon as I learned the lessons from it,” said SGA at Saturday’s media session. “There’s nothing else you can do…
• “The team has the same demeanor … you don’t have to rile guys up or lock guys in. We all have the same goal … that’s what’s on the focus of our mind.”

The Thunder are the second-youngest team in the shot clock era to reach the Finals, but they’ve played with poise well beyond their years.

Just last month, they dropped Game 1 at home to Denver in the West Semis – then bounced back to eliminate the 2023 champs in seven.

• “We have confidence and wisdom because of the situations we’ve been in,” said coach Mark Daigneault. “There’s no team I’m more confident in being ready to play, really in any situation, than ours … But you also have to go make it happen.”

Making it happen is what OKC’s opponent thrives on.

The Thunder forced the Pacers into 24 turnovers in Game 1 and led for 46:25 minutes of game time. But Indy walked away with the win – continuing its trend of rising when it matters most.

• Calm In Chaos: With Thursday’s victory, the Pacers improved to a Playoff-best 8-1 in clutch games and 7-2 on the road
• Made For The Moment: That starts with Haliburton, who has hit three of his five go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final 15 seconds this postseason on the road
• Serial Spoilers: Four of Indy’s five 15+ point Playoff comebacks? You guessed it – away games
• “It’s an overall belief in ourselves,” said Myles Turner on the Pacers road success. “It allows us to lose ourselves in the moment … I think our team thrives in adversity.”

In a crucial Game 2, will Indy take another on the road, or will OKC even the series? (8 ET, ABC)

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4. ALL-ACCESS: ON THE GROUND IN OKC

With a combined average age of 26.3, the Thunder (25.6) and Pacers (27.1) make up the second-youngest Finals since 1955.

That youthful energy was on full display during Saturday’s media session, where NBA Player Correspondent and Heat rising star Jaime Jaquez Jr. grabbed a mic and jumped into the mix.

“Today, I’m gonna be the one asking the questions,” Jaime promised. And he delivered.

• The Answers We Need: Jaquez didn’t hold back, asking Isaiah Hartenstein how his dog and son are getting along with each other. Hartenstein’s reply? “That’s good journalism.”
• Canadian Fit Check: Rocking denim on denim, Jaime put Bennedict Mathurin on the spot – asking if his fit qualifies as a Canadian tuxedo
• Chet’s Favorite: Cason Wallace also put on his reporter hat, asking teammate Chet Holmgren who his favorite player on the team is
• Man Of Many Talents: At Pacers practice, Pascal Siakam showed off his fútbol skills with some fancy juggling

Correspondent Connection: Jaime later chopped it up with Jalen Williams, who served as a Player Correspondent for the 2023 Finals in Miami – just 10 days before the Heat drafted Jaquez.

• “It was crazy,” Williams said of the environment in Miami. “A Finals atmosphere no matter what city you’re in is always crazy. So, that was really cool.”
• Finals Wisdom: JDub also recalled advice he received off camera from Kevin Love about mental health and protecting your peace amid the Finals chaos

Speaking of the Heat, Tyrese Haliburton caught Dwyane Wade’s hilarious reaction to his Game 1 winner – and loved it.

• “That’s pretty fire … I was a big Heat fan in that ‘Heatles’ era,” said Haliburton. “So that means the world because it’s definitely a guy I’ve looked up to my whole life.”

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5. UNFORGETTABLE: COLEMAN AYERS ON KYRIE IN 2016

Few fans view the game through as detailed a lens as Coleman Ayers, a rising hoops creator and coach, and the founder of By Any Means Basketball.

Known for his sharp insight and inventive approach to player development, Coleman helps athletes and coaches around the world level up their skills and basketball IQ.

You can catch that same eye for detail in his latest Instagram videos, where he breaks down Chet Holmgren’s offensive versatility and Andrew Nembhard’s masterful rhythm and feel.

So what Finals moment left the biggest imprint on his basketball brain?

We asked him in our latest edition of Unforgettable:

“It has to be that 2016 Finals – Kyrie’s shot. Honestly, the whole Finals. But that Game 7 series-clinching shot is the one that lives with me the most…

“I wanna say I was a senior in high school – and I was a huge Steph fan. So I was definitely rooting for the Dubs. Leading up to that, the way the entire series flipped – you could just feel this wave of emotion from fans, players, everyone. And everything over the course of the series led to that game – and it’s just so back and forth….

“The game is tied – highest stakes you can get in basketball – and LeBron’s block was right before that … Then to see Kyrie go for it – the assertiveness behind the shot. Not only the willingness, but the ‘give me the ball’ component was super cool…

“Even against my allegiances, the fact that he had the guts to shoot and make that shot on one of the biggest stages you could possibly get in basketball, and even sports – it was incredible.”