Pacers HC Says SGA 'Can Mark Down 34 Points Before They Even Get on the Plane' for G3

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is inevitable in the view of Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.

"(With) Shai, you can mark down 34 points before they even get on the plane tomorrow for the next game," Carlisle said after Sunday's 123-107 defeat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. "The guy's going to score. We've got to find ways to make it as tough as possible on him."

Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for OKC, scoring a game-high 34 points and adding five rebounds, eight assists, four steals and one block.

The reigning MVP is having a playoff run to remember and demonstrating an almost metronome-like consistency with his scoring. He's averaging 30.4 points through 18 games, and on only five occasions has he failed to eclipse the 30-point threshold.

Right now, Gilgeous-Alexander is performing at a level where opposing coaches, to Carlisle's point, pretty much have to concede he's going to get his regardless of the defensive scheme they deploy.

The problem for the Pacers is that the Thunder not only have an elite scorer hitting his apex but also boast a deep well of secondary options. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams combined for 34 points in Game 2. Alex Caruso came off the bench and dropped 20.

When you can't stop one star, mitigating the impact of his supporting cast is the obvious tactical counter. Indiana can't really do that, either, because OKC has so many other offensive threats.

As much as the Pacers' improbable comeback in Game 1 made people question what they thought about this series coming in, Game 2 reinforced why the Thunder were such a heavy favorite.