Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder outlast Pacers 129-125 in OT

Published Feb. 25, 2022 9:56 p.m. ET

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points and made the decisive 3-point play with 20.4 seconds left in overtime to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a 129-125 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Tre Mann finished with 22 points to help Oklahoma City snap a two-game losing streak and a five-game skid in the series with its first win in Indiana since March 2019. The Thunder lost at home to NBA-leading Phoenix the night before.

Buddy Hield led the Pacers with 29 points. Rookie Isaiah Jackson had 17 points, six rebounds and five blocks as Indiana lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Gilgeous-Alexandder repeatedly got past Indiana's defenders on drives to the baskets. He beat them the same way at the end.

Indiana had a chance to tie it with 10 seconds to go, but Tyrese Haliburton's 3-pointer was an airball. The Thunder grabbed the rebound, made 1 of 2 free throws, grabbed the offensive rebound and ran out the clock.

It looked as if the Pacers were in control when they scored 10 straight to take a 113-105 lead.

But Oklahoma City answered with its own 10-0 run to retake the lead, then extended it to 121-117 with 54.4 seconds left. But when the Thunder couldn't seal it at the free-throw line, Indiana took advantage with a 3-pointer from Hield and Lance Stephenson's 3 to tie it with 1.6 seconds left.

After a timeout, Gilgeous-Alexnader missed a 3 from the corner, forcing an overtime where the shooting woes continued. It took nearly 2 1/2 minutes for either team to make a basket.

Oklahoma City tied it at 125 on Darius Bazley's short jumper with 1:46 to go and took the lead on Gilgeous-Alexander's three-point play. Tyrese Haliburton's 3 to tie it with 10 seconds left was off the mark and Oklahoma City never gave the ball back to Indiana.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Darius Bazley had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Theo Maledon also scored 14 points. ... Isaiah Roby had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four assists despite being in foul trouble most of the night. ... Aleksej Pokusevski had 13 points.

Pacers: Hield also had seven rebounds and five assists. ... Haliburton finished with 14 points and 11 assists while Malcolm Brogdon scored 15 points in his first game since Jan. 19. ... Oshae Brissett had 10 points and 15 rebounds. ... Jalen Smith added 16 points and Stephenson had 14 but missed two 3s late in regulation.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

In a game between teams battling for lottery picks, the intriguing matchup between two of the league's most promising young guards — Haliburton and Josh Giddey — could have at least drawn some fanfare. Instead, a hip injury forced Giddey to sit out the second night of a back to back.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Hosts Sacramento on Monday night.

Pacers: Host Boston on Sunday.

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