Game 4 of the NBA Finals is tonight, as the Indiana Pacers host the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers took a 2-1 series lead after defeating OKC 116-107 in Game 3 on Wednesday. With this being the first time the Pacers have led in the NBA Finals, it is an exciting time in Indiana. How will the Thunder and the MVP respond? Will they bounce back and even the Finals heading back to OKC, or will Indy take a commanding 3-1 series lead? Let’s jump straight into Game 4!
What Went Right in Game 3?
There are many positives for both teams to take away from the previous game. Let’s start with the Pacers. The last game was the first instance where they won the turnover battle. Now, it’s only on a two-game sample size before Game 3. However, it showed that the regression to the mean was constantly upon us. In Game 1, Indy had 15 turnovers, then 15 in Game 2. One of the biggest keys for the Pacers win last game was their bench. Their second unit dominated when called upon, with 40 of the team’s 116 points.
Now, to turn attention to the Thunder. We saw Jalen Williams have his best performance of the Finals with 26 points. With J-Dub finally showing up like the player he can be, it breathes a sigh of relief for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren continued his hot streak since his dud in Game 1, with back-to-back 15+ point performances. The question will be their biggest strength. How will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) respond tonight?
What to Expect from the Pacers and Thunder?
You can expect Indiana to continue their “all gas, no breaks” mentality. Whether it’s off makes, misses, or turnovers, this team has pushed the pace all season and hasn’t slowed down this postseason. For a young team like the Thunder to appear out of breath late in the game on Wednesday speaks volumes. I expect Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam to seize the moment and come out of the gate as aggressive as they were Wednesday night.
To shift to the Thunder, if this is not primed for an MVP moment for SGA, I don’t know what is. Down 2-1 with Game 4 on the road, that is where legends are made. We saw it when Steph Curry dropped 43 points in Game 4 of the 2022 Finals to even up the series heading back to Golden State. Legendary players have legendary performances in these situations, and it’s time for SGA to show up. In the last game, he scored three points in the 4th quarter; in this game, he must deliver for the Thunder.
X-Factors Tonight!
In the last game, I chose TJ McConnell to be the X-Factor, and he was one of the main reasons the Pacers won. If Indiana is going to take a 3-1 series lead, keep your eye on Myles Turner to bounce back from the previous game. He was the only starter for Indy with a negative plus/minus when he was on the court. He shot an abysmal 3/11 from the floor, including 1/4 from downtown. However, he was excellent at blocking shots, recording five blocks. Look for him to get in a rhythm scoring to space out this elite offense.
As for the Thunder, it’s interesting to call this level of player an X-Factor, but SGA, it’s on you. I don’t want to come out tomorrow morning hearing and seeing that your teammates didn’t come through. When you are the MVP and best player on your team, it’s on you. You will come out and have a great game tonight, but you cannot disappear in clutch time for the second consecutive game.
Who Wins Game 4?
With this series unfolding the way it has, I am picking the Oklahoma City Thunder to win Game 4 and even up this series, sending it back to OKC. Despite all the reasons I chose the Pacers in Game 3’s Preview, the Thunder have bounced back after losses all season long. With a 16-2 record following a loss, Oklahoma City has only lost two in a row nine times over the last two seasons. I believe in this roster and head coach to get it done tonight.
Final Thoughts
This series has been fantastic through the first three games. I thought the Thunder would be up 2-1 at this point in the series; however, the Pacers have continued to surprise me. From momentum swings to clutch performances, this might be the best Finals we have seen over the past 3-4 seasons. Who do you think will win tonight? Will the Pacers put a stranglehold on this series, or will the Thunder show there is much basketball left to be played? Thank you for reading and check out some of our other stuff on New Leaf News!
