THUNDER RALLY TO BEAT PACERS AND LEVEL NBA FINALS

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) has averaged 32.8 points per game in the NBA Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder came from behind late on to beat the Indiana Pacers and level the NBA Finals.

The Thunder won 111-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

They trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter but outscored Indiana 31-17 in the last period, closing with a 12-1 run in the last three minutes.

"I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "I didn't want to go down not swinging."

Thunder coach Mark Daigneaul gave Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's Most Valuable Player, a break late in the third quarter rather than his usual rest early in the fourth.

The Pacers led 101-97 with less than four minutes remaining, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of the Thunder's final 16 points and ended the game with 10 free-throws from 10 attempts.

Jalen Williams scored 27 points and made seven rebounds for the Thunder, while Alex Caruso added 20 points off the bench.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton 18.

"We just didn't execute at the end of the game," said Siakam. "We didn't get easy shots. The easy shots that we got, we missed them. And they made them."

The Thunder host game five at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at 19:30 local time on Monday (01:30 BST, Tuesday).

THUNDER ROUTE PELICANS BEHIND FRANCHISE-RECORD 27 TREYS

Feb 10, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 137-101 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.

The Thunder extended their winning streak to six games while the Pelicans' losing streak was extended to nine.

During their run, the Thunder have won by an average of 25.8 points per game.

They ran away with this one early, overcoming a slow offensive start to lead by 13 after one quarter, thanks to a 13-3 run to end the frame.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored eight during that stretch, including a four-point play after hitting a step-back 3-pointer and taking a foul from Jordan Hawkins.

Oklahoma City stretched its lead as much as 29 points in the second quarter, and New Orleans was never closer than 22 in the second half.

With the Thunder leading the game comfortably, Gilgeous-Alexander sat out the entire fourth quarter. It was the 13th game this season where Gilgeous-Alexander did not play in the fourth.

Aaron Wiggins added 24 points off the bench for the Thunder, going 9 of 13 from the floor.

Wiggins is averaging 23.2 points per game during the winning streak after averaging 9.3 points per game over his first 46 games of the season.

Oklahoma City hit a franchise-record 27 3-pointers, with four each from Gilgeous-Alexander, Wiggins and Alex Caruso.

The Thunder, who hadn't hit more than 20 in a game this season, were 27 of 55 (49.1 percent) from beyond the arc.

Oklahoma City scored 40 points off 23 Pelicans turnovers.

The Thunder set that tone from early, scoring 12 off New Orleans' seven first-quarter turnovers.

Oklahoma City big man Chet Holmgren, playing just his second game since returning from an extended absence due to a pelvic fracture, had 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks.

Coming off a season-high 40-point outing in a Saturday loss at Sacramento, New Orleans' Zion Williamson had 17 points and five assists.

Williamson didn't make a field goal until the final two minutes of the first half.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 23 points.

--Field Level Media

WEMBANYAMA BECOMES 1ST ROOKIE TO MAKE FIRST-TEAM ALL DEFENSE

Defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert of Minnesota headlined the team along with Wembanyama, Miami’s Bam Adebayo, New Orleans’ Herb Jones and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis.

FILE PHOTO - San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots in front of Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game. | Photo Credit: BRANDON DILL/ AP

 

Victor Wembanyama’s latest accolade was like none other.

The San Antonio center has become the first player in NBA history to make the league’s All-Defensive first team as a rookie. The league announced the teams on Tuesday, and Wembanyama appeared on 98 of the 99 ballots cast.

"Defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert of Minnesota headlined the team and was the only unanimous selection. He was joined on the first team by Wembanyama, Miami’s Bam Adebayo, New Orleans’ Herb Jones and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis.

“Coming into this league, obviously he had high expectations because he’s 7-3 and shooting step-back 3s. I think a lot of people paid attention more to that than what he actually did on the defensive end,” Adebayo said of Wembanyama. “So, for him to get first-team, first come around, it’s obviously a great accolade for him.”

The second-team All-Defense picks were Chicago’s Alex Caruso, Orlando’s Jalen Suggs, Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels and Boston teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.

It was Gobert’s seventh5 All-Defense pick, all of them as a member of the first team. Davis is now a five-time All-Defense player, and a three-time first-team selection. Adebayo made All-Defense for the fifth time, and his first as a member of the first team. Jones made the team for the first time.

I feel it’s a long time coming, obviously,” Adebayo said of his first first-team nod. “Just staying in this moment, enjoying it, blessed to be able to be one of the ones selected.”

Wembanyama is now the sixth rookie in NBA history to make the All-Defensive Team — with the other five all earning second-team nods in their first seasons. Those five were San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in 1998, the Spurs’ David Robinson in 1990, Washington’s Manute Bol (1986), Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon (1985) and Milwaukee’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970).

The All-NBA team will be revealed Wednesday. If Wembanyama makes that team, he would be the first rookie to earn that distinction since Duncan did 26 years ago.

- AP

 

DEMAR DEROZAN HELPS BULLS OUST SCOTTIE BARNES, RAPTORS

 

USA TODAY Sports 

DeMar DeRozan had 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists and the visiting Chicago Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors 116-110 Thursday night.

Nikola Vucevic added 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Bulls. Coby White had 23 points and eight rebounds, Patrick Williams added 12 points and Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 10.

Scottie Barnes finished with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists and RJ Barrett added 17 points and six assists for the Raptors, who are 1-1 in their first two games since trading Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Bruce Brown, who came to Toronto in that trade, scored 15 points in his Raptors debut. Immanuel Quickley scored 12 points and Jontay Porter had 10.

Chicago's Zach LaVine left the game early in the third quarter and went to the locker room with an apparent ankle injury. He returned to the bench a few minutes later. He had eight points.

Chicago took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter.