Thunder Go Up 2-0 on the Suns: The Day After the Day After Report
Notes from OKC's Game 2 win at home.
Postgame Bolts
- Game 2 was the 16th anniversary of OKC hosting their first NBA playoff game.
- That game was an arrival on the international stage for the Thunder. A spotlight versus Kobe Bryant and the champion Lakers. The young Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden led OKC to a big win. Loud City made an instant impression in its worldwide debut.
- Also, just to make you feel old: if anyone had a baby that night, they can officially drive a car.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back in a big way in Game 2. Shai favored his left hand after an early drive where he ended up down on the court. SGA said postgame that he wasn't sure what happened. He said it hurt but also went numb. Good news was he somehow shot much better after the incident.
- Highlight of the game was Gilgeous-Alexander hitting a jumper over Dillon Brooks and running backwards smiling and pointing at his Team Canada teammate the whole way back down the court.
Shai.
37 PTS
13-25 FG
2-5 3PT
5 REB
9 AST
2 STL
+16
- Shai scored 20 points for the 11th straight playoff game. Just feel like I should keep the bit going.
- Alex Caruso and Playoff Alex Caruso are two completely different players.
- Isaiah Joe competes. Smallest player on the court and he contested shots at the rim, skied to try to get rebounds and fought for loose balls. Skittles and broccoli player.
- Jalen Williams pulled out a thriller of a spin move just in time for the release of the Michael movie.
- Williams had Loud City barking. The playoffs felt like they officially arrived in OKC. Unfortunately, those barks later turned to sad howls.
- Thunder fans' joy from nearing a 2-0 lead took a big hit to the gut after JDub grabbed at his hamstring, went to the bench and eventually walked to the locker room.
- Chet Holmgren continues to level up.
Chet.
19 PTS
7-12 FG
3-6 3PT
8 REB
4 BLK
- Holmgren blocked 4 shots in the first 1 minutes and 46 seconds. The statisticians later removed one of those blocks from his box score but I know what I saw.
- The OKC free throw discourse is absolutely cooked. OKC shot 25 free throws. (2 intentional/1 tech). Suns shot 22 free throws. But if you looked on NBA social media or listened to a talking head, you'd think OKC out shot Phoenix by an overwhelming margin.
- SGA shot 9 free throws in Game 2. Three of those were from an intentional foul and a technical foul. Devin Booker shot 10 free throws.
- The irony of Dillon Brooks iso'ing against SGA and instantly snapping his head back and foul baiting.
- Brooks fouled out of the game with 25 seconds left and the game over.
- Seems like he did that as a favor for the OKC crowd so they could give him a proper ovation. Loud City obliged.
- The technical fouls on Lu Dort, Brooks and Devin Booker in Game 2 have all been rescinded.
- Kolbi Jordan is the Michael Jordan of national anthem singers. The Tulsa native sang the anthem before Game 2, an incredible rendition. Kolbi finished in the top 14 on season 23 of American Idol and I have no idea how there were 13 more talented singers in the field.
