Aaron Wiggins, from Grimsley High School and Wesleyan Christian Academy, plus he is an Alumni of the Forest Valley local outdoor basketball court, well Aaron Wiggins had a field day on Sunday, in Game Two of the NBA’s Championship Finals…Aaron hit Five Three-Pointers and he scored a total of 18 points for the OKC Thunder in Game Two of the NBA Finals, at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma….Aaron tearin’ and sharin’ the skills that made him a shining star for the Whirlies, the WES Trojans, and the Maryland Terrapins in his Aaron’s college days….More below, on the OKC Thunder playoff show…Stay Tuned….
Check Out 10 Outstanding photos of Aaron Wiggins, from the Oklahoman Newspaper, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, when you CLICK HERE….You need to check these out, as #21 Aaron Wiggins, is making his moves…
Thunder storm back vs. Pacers to even NBA Finals
from Sean Keane, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost a heartbreaker in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. In Game 2 on Sunday, the Thunder never let the Indiana Pacers get close enough to break their hearts again.
All season, the Thunder responded well to losses. Game 2’s 123-107 win brought their record to 17-2 on the season in games following a loss, and 5-0 in the playoffs. After the Pacers took a 20-17 lead late in the opening quarter, the Thunder buckled down and closed the first on a 9-0 run. 10 minutes later, they had a 23-point lead.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took control of the game, scoring 34 points and dishing eight assists, while racking up four steals and a block. He played like a true closer in the third quarter when the Pacers were still trying to claw back into the game, getting to to foul line for six free throws — he made them all, scoring 12 points and getting two steals.
SGA took the wind out of the Pacers’ attempted comeback, thanks in part to some big contributions from two bench players. Alex Caruso put up 20 points off the bench and Aaron Wiggins had 18, both shooting 6-of-11 from the field. The Pacers gave up 38 points to Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 1, but limited his teammates’ scoring. But when Wiggins and Caruso are combining to shoot 9-of-16 on three-pointers, the Thunder are very tough to stop.
AARON WIGGINS BIG-TIME SHOWING!
His 5th 3PM of the game, a playoff career-high IN THE FINALS
Even with seven Pacers scoring in double figures, the Thunder’s supporting cast was superior in Game 2. The OKC bench had 48 points to Indiana’s 34. And when the supporting casts are even, it comes down to the stars.
Sunday night, Gilgeous-Alexander was the best star on the floor. His 72 points were the most for any player in their first two NBA Finals games. The Pacers desperately need to limit Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates for the rest of the series, because SGA is looking unstoppable after two games.
The big story from The Oklahoman on Aaron Wiggins, coming out after Sunday’s game…
Aaron Wiggins, the man who saved basketball, saved Thunder in NBA Finals Game 2
from Joe Mussatto:The Oklahoman…CLICK HERE to read more and to read all and there is plenty MORE…
Aaron Wiggins saved basketball. His Basketball Reference page says so. Seriously. His two listed nicknames on the hoops database are “Wiggs” — makes sense — and “The Man Who Saved Basketball” — which only those steeped in Thunder internet culture will understand (more on that later).
Sunday night, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Aaron Wiggins was The Man Who Saved the Thunder. One 3-pointer at a time.
Wiggins made five of them in the Thunder’s 123-107 win against the Pacers — a victory that sends this series back to Indianapolis tied one to one. In a game the Thunder won by 17, Wiggins was a game-best plus-24 in his 21 minutes.
He scored 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He went 5 of 8 from 3-point range, going on a heater befitting of his flame-colored sneakers.
Paycom Center, which reached record levels of raucousness, erupted with each Wiggins triple. Thunder fans go crazy for Shai and bark with J-Dub, but there’s nothing like the noise when a role player like Wiggins gets going. It’s a testament to the fanbase’s basketball savvy to have extra appreciation when the Wigginses of the world come through in big moments.
And the moment couldn’t have been bigger Sunday.
“It’s impressive to me,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was masterful in his 34-point night. “He’s been exactly who he’s been all year throughout the playoffs. Sometimes it’s 20 minutes, sometimes two minutes, sometimes he gets 10. It’s all over the place. No matter what, he finds a way to impact winning for us.
“You need it in the biggest moments. No one-man show can win an NBA championship. For him to rise to the occasion and just be who he’s been in the biggest moment of his basketball career is pretty gutsy. Says a lot about the competitor and the man he is.”
Sam Presti unearthed a gem in Wiggins with the 55th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Originally signed to a two-way contract, Wiggins is making $10.5 million this season on a descending contract that will take him through the 2028-29 season.
As Wiggins improved, his legend spread.
“Aaron Wiggins Saved Basketball” became a meme, originated by a high schooler in West Virginia. What does it mean? As the story goes, basketball needed saving, and Wiggins was the man for the job.
Key Game Points….
Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins scored 18 points off the bench in Oklahoma City’s Game 2 win against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.
Aaron Wiggins shot 5-of-8 from 3-point range, significantly contributing to the Thunder’s victory and tying the series 1-1.
Again, CLICK HERE to read MORE, and there is plenty MORE…