Indiana's Gainbridge Fieldhouse was electric on June 13, 2025. The Pacers were poised to take a commanding 3–1 lead in the NBA Finals. Instead, Oklahoma City’s superstar, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, delivered a historic performance, scoring 15 of his 35 points in the final 4 minutes and 38 seconds. That late‑night explosion fueled a 16‑7 surge that turned a looming loss into a 111–104 victory, levelling the series at 2–2 (theguardian.com, apnews.com).
With momentum now in their favor and home‑court claimed for Game 5, the Thunder have re‑energized their championship pursuit—but the Pacers remain dangerous.
1. A Rocky Start, But Pacers in Control
The Pacers came out aggressive—Jarreled 20 quick points in under five minutes, showcasing the offense that defined their season (apnews.com). They built a double-digit lead late in the third quarter—86–76—rousing the crowd and dictating the game’s flow.
However, the Thunder leaned into their grit. A 13–3 run late in the third closed the gap, setting the stage for a drama‑filled fourth quarter . As the final period began, it was a dogfight every possession.
2. SGA: MVP Excellence Under Pressure
Although Shai struggled offensively early—hesitant passes, tough misses—Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s strategy of conserving him paid dividends (washingtonpost.com). He rested SGA early, relying on Jalen Williams to spark the offense. Fresh and focused, Shai unleashed a masterclass in clutch scoring: 15 points, including a go‑ahead step‑back jumper with 2:23 left—their first lead of the half (theguardian.com).
He shot a perfect 10‑for‑10 from the line in crunch time (reuters.com). His late-game tear marked the most points scored in the final three minutes of a Finals game in 50 years (washingtonpost.com).
3. Supporting Cast Comes Through
Shai had help. Jalen Williams scored 27 tough points; Alex Caruso added a vital 20, including key fourth-quarter plays; Chet Holmgren grabbed 15 rebounds and contributed 14 points—solidifying control on both ends (apnews.com).
For Indiana, Pascal Siakam led with 20 points and 5 steals, with Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin chipping in 18 and 17 respectively (apnews.com). But the Pacers faltered late, scoring only six points in the final five minutes, undone by stagnant offense and tight defense (reuters.com).
4. Intensity & Physicality: Game 4’s Hallmarks
Game 4 was mean and messy. Numerous flagrant and technical fouls erupted, igniting tempers. Flames minor but frequent—Toppin and Dort exchanged hard shots, Caruso found himself in the thick of physical play, and momentum swung violently (theguardian.com).
A game featuring 71 free throws underscored its frenetic pace and intensity (washingtonpost.com). The physical battle mirrored the stakes—a potential series‑clinching win or a pivotal collapse.
5. The Thin Line: Series Hanging in the Balance
Teams holding a 3–1 lead in the NBA Finals have historically sealed the championship 37 times out of 38. If Indiana won Game 4, they’d have joined that exclusive club. But the Thunder’s rally shifted the narrative—transforming a possible elimination scenario into a head‑to‑head showdown (apnews.com).
Returning to Oklahoma City with a tied series means home‑court advantage and renewed confidence for OKC, while Indiana faces renewed pressure in enemy territory.
6. Coach Talk: Insights From the Sidelines
-
Mark Daigneault (OKC) praised Shai’s resilience: “You wouldn’t know whether he’s up or down—he’s calm under any scenario.” He credited the team's depth and selfless lineup adjustments (apnews.com, washingtonpost.com).
-
Rick Carlisle (IND) lamented the collapse: “We got stagnant. We weren’t creating problems… we faltered.” He emphasized recovery is critical as the series heads on the road (reuters.com).
7. Context: A Young Thunder Versus a Rising Pacers Force
The Thunder are the youngest Finals team since the 1977 Blazers (en.wikipedia.org), while Haliburton has outgrown early skepticism—he’s now revered as one of the NBA’s greatest clutch performers (theguardian.com).
Indiana stunned in Game 1 with a historic comeback and Haliburton’s jumper with 0.3 seconds left—setting the tone for a gritty, unpredictable series (en.wikipedia.org).
8. Looking Ahead: Game 5 Stakes & Strategies
Game 5 in Oklahoma City looms huge. The Thunder aim to harness momentum and home‑court energy; SGA knows the weight: “We can't let up now.” (theguardian.com)
Indiana must reset—Carlisle will aggressively revive pace, leveraging Haliburton and Siakam while shoring up late-game execution.
9. A Finals Redefined
Game 4 shifted this Finals. What looked like Indiana’s dominance is now a sudden, precarious tie. From an explosive MVP performance, deep team support, and a city roaring back—OKC has rewritten the script.
But only a best‑of‑three remains—nerves, tactics, and execution will define who claims the crown. The next chapter starts Monday night—with everything on the line.
TAGS;
pacers game, game 4 nba finals, thunder vs pacers, nba finals game 4, pacers game 4, did the pacers win last night, pacers score, okc thunder, who won the nba finals 2025, nba finals, indiana pacers, okc vs pacers, shai gilgeous-alexander, thunder game, thunder pacers, pacers vs thunder game 4 time, tj mcconnell, pacers vs thunder score, nba finals game 5, shai gilgeous alexander stats, okc score, pacers vs thunder next game, thunder vs pacers game 5, nba game tonight, okc thunder score, pacers game live, thunder score tonight, pacers game tonight, nba finals live, gainbridge fieldhouse, tyrese haliburton stats
0 Comments