"As many FTM as FGM, yikes" - Fans raise eyebrows at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's free throw total as OKC ties NBA Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder have tied the NBA Finals at 1-1 after beating the Indiana Pacers 123-107 in Game 2 on Sunday. The reigning MVP was fantastic for the Thunder again, but some fans couldn't help but raise their eyebrows at SGA's free-throw attempts.

After fumbling Game 1 and letting the Pacers gain homecourt advantage, the Thunder meant business on Sunday. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals. He went 11-for-21 from the field, making just one 3-point shot and going 11-for-12 from the charity stripe.

Chet Holmgren had a big game, putting up 15 points and six rebounds, while Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins came up huge off the bench. Caruso scored 20 points and Wiggins had 18 points, combining to make nine of the Thunder's 14 3-point shots.

However, some fans can't help but notice the 12 free-throw attempts by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite his MVP season, SGA has been called a "free-throw merchant" by people online. He seemed unfazed by the label and focused on the task at hand.

Here are some of the best reactions to Gilgeous-Alexander's Game 2 performance.

Ben

@TheHurricaneBen

As many FTM as FGM... Yikes.

Cooked_By_Curry🇦🇺

@Cooked_By_Curry

12 free throw attempts smh

HeroOfTheDay

@Hero_OfThe_Day

Manufactured ring, manufactured MVP 🔥🔥

osc

@oscgalla

stat padding flopper 😭😭

Van Heflin

@LeeroyRandall

One of the reasons the NBA is suffering is because of clowns like this. Boring Foul merchant

Tony G 🇮🇹

@TGTatum4_3

SGA stat padded the entire 4th quarter

The OKC Thunder dominated from start to finish, though the Indiana Pacers kept it close in the first quarter. The Pacers were at bay until the fourth quarter, when the Thunder decided to end it and not allow another comeback.

Oklahoma City's biggest lead reached 23 points, but it was the bench points that helped Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's second consecutive 30-point NBA Finals game.

The Thunder bench scored a whopping 48 points, while the free-throw disparity was much closer than people thought. The hosts had 33 free-throw attempts, while Indiana had 26 bonus shots.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes history in Game 2, joins GOATs Michael Jordan and LeBron James

SGA makes history in Game 2, joins GOATs Michael Jordan and LeBron James. (Photo: IMAGN)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a season for the ages and is just three wins away from completing it. SGA had his 11th 30-point, five-assist game of the postseason, which ties him for the most in a single playoff run. He joined some elite company, namely, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Jordan did it twice in 1989 and 1990, while James put up those numbers in 2015, 2017 and 2018. SGA has a chance to surpass both legends, though it's also a worrying stat for the OKC Thunder star.

Based on the years MJ and LeBron registered those numbers, they never won a championship. Jordan lost to the Detroit Pistons in those two years, while the Golden State Warriors beat "The King" in the NBA Finals all three times.