Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 30 points to inspire his side to a 122-113 victory against the San Antonio Spurs as the reigning NBA champions levelled the Western Conference final at 1-1.
Gilgeous-Alexander – who has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award for a second year in a row – also provided nine assists in their second home game of the best-of-seven series.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points in the opening game but was limited to 21 in the second match.
“The guys brought it tonight, knowing what it would have meant if we lost this one,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.
“We brought the energy from the jump.”
The game was level at 31 apiece after the first quarter before Thunder moved into an 11-point lead at half-time.
The Spurs did level the match midway through the third and got to within two points of their rivals in the fourth quarter but Thunder pulled away each time on the way to victory.
“We got a W, it’s all you can ask for. Now we got to go on the road against a really good team and go get one,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.
Games three and four will take place in San Antonio on Friday and Sunday.
The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 in the Eastern Conference final with game two in New York on Thursday.