Entering Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in a position that not many expected them to be in. Oklahoma City trails the Indiana Pacers in the series after collapsing in Game 1.
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But the Thunder will have Game 2 played on their home floor once again, and the team has been excellent in front of its fans. Oklahoma City will look to avoid going down 2-0 in the series, and they seem to be very confident entering Game 2.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault spoke about the mindset of the team entering the second game, and his comments exuded confidence.
“There’s no team I’m more confident in being ready to play, really in any situation than ours.”
“There’s no team I’m more confident in being ready to play… than ours.”
Mark Daigneault has trust in his guys to respond in Game 2 💯👏
IND (1-0) OKC | Sunday at 8pm/et | ABC pic.twitter.com/rM83QhMzok
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2025
Daigneault understands that this series should be a battle, even though many others expected it to be a rout. Indiana has been playing lights out since the second half of the season, and they have used that face to boost the run to the NBA Finals.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – JUNE 05: Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center…
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – JUNE 05: Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
While many have counted out the Pacers, the Thunder aren’t one of them. Oklahoma City got a taste of that reality in Game 1, and they will look to make sure not to allow Indiana to win two straight on the road.
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Even Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t seem too worried after the Game 1 loss. Gilgeous-Alexander spoke out about the loss and put everything into perspective for his team.
“The series isn’t first to one, it’s first to four,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after dropping a game-high 38 points. “We have four more games to get, they have three. That’s just where we are.”
The Thunder will need to regroup in Game 2 and get back to the basics. While the defense was strong, the offense was lacking in different areas.
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Oklahoma City was the best team during the regular season all year long, and they will likely be out to prove that fact in the next game. If the Pacers were to take a 2-0 lead in the series, it could be very tough for the Thunder to pull off the comeback.
Game 2 between the teams is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 8, at 8 p.m. ET.
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