The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-104 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, tying the series 2-2 and reclaiming home-court advantage. The Pacers, who led for much of the game, faltered in the fourth quarter, raising questions about whether they missed a golden opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
Indiana held a 10-point lead late in the third quarter and a seven-point advantage heading into the fourth. However, they were outscored 31-17 in the final period. The Pacers went ice cold, missing 12 of their last 16 shots from the field. Their inability to rebound effectively also hurt them, as the Thunder won the rebounding battle 43-33, leading to second-chance points. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle pointed to stagnation on offense and the Thunder's defensive pressure as factors in their late-game struggles. He noted their inability to rebound effectively hindered their pace and tempo. Pascal Siakam, who led the Pacers with 20 points, didn't score in the final nine minutes and only attempted one shot, highlighting their offensive struggles.
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his game-high 35 points in the final 12 minutes. He made all eight of his free-throw attempts in the fourth, showcasing his clutch performance. Oklahoma City went on a 12-1 run in the final three minutes, sealing the victory. The Thunder's defense also tightened, holding the Pacers to just 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Several factors contributed to the Pacers' Game 4 loss. They struggled from beyond the arc, missing all eight of their three-point attempts in the fourth quarter. They also had 16 turnovers, which led to 25 points for the Thunder. Moreover, the Pacers were outrebounded and outscored in the paint. Tyrese Haliburton, who has been a key player for Indiana, had a relatively quiet night, scoring 18 points. Bennedict Mathurin, who had a strong Game 3, missed three crucial free throws in the final seconds.
Despite the loss, the Pacers showed resilience throughout the game, answering every Thunder run until the fourth quarter. Haliburton made key plays to keep the Pacers ahead, but the Thunder's defense and Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance proved too much. The Pacers' inability to close out the game after leading for so long is a major concern. Their offense became stagnant, and they failed to execute down the stretch. Easy shots were missed, and the Thunder capitalized on their mistakes.
Looking ahead to Game 5, the Pacers need to regain their offensive rhythm and improve their rebounding. They also need to find a way to contain Gilgeous-Alexander and limit his effectiveness in the fourth quarter. The series is now a best-of-three, and the Pacers need to bounce back from this disappointing loss to reclaim control. Whether Indiana can adjust and respond in Game 5 remains to be seen, but their Game 4 performance certainly raised questions about their ability to close out games against a tough Thunder team.
