SHAI Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to another comfortable home win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, 118-99 on Tuesday in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series.
The Thunder, who won the opener by 51 points, lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Memphis.
“They took care of their business,” Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said, “so now it’s time for us to take care of business at home.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a season-low 15 points in the Game 1 victory, struggled again in Game 2, going just 10-for-29 overall and 3-for-10 on 3-point attempts.
“I feel like I’m getting looks that I usually make, just missing them,” he said. “Because my team is good, we’ve won two games by a decent margin. They had my back the last two nights.”
Jalen Williams added 24 points for Oklahoma City, which never trailed. Chet Holmgren contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Alex Caruso scored 13.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 26 points while Ja Morant added 23. Jackson scored 13 of his points in the third quarter, when the Grizzlies outscored the Thunder 27-20.
After going just 2-for-13 in Game 1, Jackson was 10-for-17 on Tuesday, hitting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
But Oklahoma City was too much — especially on defense.
The Thunder scored 25 points off the Grizzlies’ 15 turnovers while committing just seven turnovers themselves.
“They’re such a good defensive team,” said the Grizzlies’ Scotty Pippen Jr., who hit just 4 of 12 shots and scored 13 points. “When we try to pass and move it around too much, it leads to them recovering and us taking tougher shots.”
Through two games, Oklahoma City has outscored Memphis 48-8 on the fast break.
Pacers 123, Bucks 115
Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton each had a double-double as the Indiana Pacers withstood a late rally to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 123-115 on Tuesday in Indianapolis for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds while Haliburton had 21 points and 12 assists for fourth-seeded Indiana, which never trailed. The best-of-seven series shifts to Milwaukee for Game 3 on Friday.
“We’ve done our job and that’s all we’ve done,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’ve protected home court. Now the scene shifts and their building will be wild on Friday and Sunday. We have to be prepared.”
The Pacers led by 15 before Bucks star Damian Lillard hit a 3-pointer to cap a 13-0 run and cut the deficit to 115-113 with 2:33 remaining.
After Siakam’s trey ended the run on the Pacers’ next possession, Siakam and the Bucks’ Bobby Portis were issued technical fouls. Andrew Nembhard helped to secure the victory with a 3-pointer that put Indiana ahead 121-113 with 1:11 left.
“We were fortunate tonight,” Carlisle said. “We slowed down in the fourth quarter and we got into a lot of isolation stuff instead of moving the ball the way we’re capable of. Credit Milwaukee for a switching defense that got us up against the clock. We’re gonna have to do better there.”
Nembhard finished with 17 points, Aaron Nesmith added 16, Myles Turner had 15 and Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 off the bench. The Pacers shot 48.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent (16 of 36) from 3-point range.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led fifth-seeded Milwaukee with 34 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists. Portis posted 28 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, Lillard added 14 points and Kyle Kuzma had 12 points. The Bucks shot 50.6 percent from the field and 40 percent (14 for 35) from beyond the arc, but committed 16 turnovers.
