Okay, here’s a rewrite of the ESPN article with a more conversational and human tone. I’ve focused on making it sound like you’re talking to a friend about the game:
Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE this game last night. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers went at it…again! Remember how the Thunder beat the Pacers in the Finals this year in that crazy seven-game series? Well, they just played AGAIN and it was even more insane.
Jamal Collier from ESPN wrote about it, and apparently Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was exhausted after the game (can you blame him?!). It was their second double-overtime game in a row to start the season! Apparently, no other team in NBA history has ever done that. And get this: they WON both of them! This time it was 141-135.
Shai was hilarious in the post-game interview. He said he was tired, which is totally understandable, but then added, “It’s a good way to break the ice on the season, shake the rust off, kind of bust the lungs up, get my cardio back.” LOL.
The coach, Mark Daigneault, was thinking about easing up on the minutes after their first double-OT win against the Rockets. And, to be honest, with about 3 minutes left in the first overtime and the Thunder down by 5, he almost did it! But Shai wasn’t having it. He played like 45 minutes that night after playing 47 on Tuesday!
Shai said winning is too important! He emphasized that even games at the beginning of the season are important. Think about home-court advantage come playoff time – so true!
The Thunder were actually missing a few key guys (Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Alex Caruso). But Ajay Mitchell, who’s only in his second year, had a HUGE night. He scored a career-high 26 points off the bench!
Daigneault was super impressed, saying Mitchell “didn’t really blink.” He seemed totally calm and ready. Shai even gave Mitchell a big hug after the game to congratulate him on the awesome performance. Shai emphasized that the team never makes excuses.
Now, the Pacers weren’t at full strength either. They’re still without Tyrese Haliburton (bummer!), and they lost Aaron Nesmith to fouls and Andrew Nembhard hurt his shoulder. The coach, Carlisle, didn’t sound too optimistic about Nembhard’s injury.
But even with all that, they pushed the Thunder to the absolute limit, just like in the Finals. Pascal Siakam had a monster game with 32 points and 15 rebounds, and Bennedict Mathurin had 36 points and 11 rebounds.
Carlisle said the team needs to be gritty this year, since they are going to face many challenges.
Basically, it sounds like it’s going to be a tough (but hopefully exciting) season for both teams.