The Oklahoma City Thunder comeback in the 4th quarter to tie up the NBA Finals 2-2 against the Indiana Pacers. Last night was a tale of two games, the first three quarters and the 4th quarter. When needed, the MVP showed up and took over the game. With the Finals heading back to OKC tied 2-2, this series is now a best-of-three. Let’s dive into last night’s game!
Pacers Explosive Start
The Indiana Pacers came out in Game 4 and took control right off the opening tip. Despite only winning the 1st quarter 35-34, Indy shot an exceptional 11/20 from the floor, including 4/8 from downtown and 9/10 from the free throw line. Speaking of hot starts, Pascal Siakam scored 10 of his 20 points in the opening quarter. Siakam had a strong performance, scoring 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out five assists, and swiping five steals.
Despite an excellent scoring performance, Obi Toppin was dreadful on the defensive end. The Pacers were outscored by 15 when he was on the floor. In the 3rd quarter, he was the sole reason the Thunder didn’t reclaim the lead and run away with it. Every time OKC would cut the lead down, Toppin would knock down a big-time three.
Thunder’s Stars Stepping Up
In the Game 4 Preview, I said that I expected the MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to have a legendary performance. In the 4th quarter, down seven, SGA would go on to score 15 of the Thunder’s last 16 points of the game. He would end the game with 35 points. When needed most, he showed up to even the NBA Finals.
Outside of SGA, the other stars and key players did their part. Jalen Williams scored 27 points, Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Alex Caruso was the most impactful player for OKC. Caruso finished with 20 points and five steals. He has been the second-best player on this team in the Finals, averaging 14.75 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. That’s not counting the menace he has been on the defensive end of the court.
Indiana’s Flameout
What the Pacers have hung their hat on all postseason is their ability to pull out and close games in the clutch. Last night wasn’t the case. When Indiana was up seven in the 4th, I expected this team to close the deal. They went ice cold from the floor in the 4th. As a team, they shot 5/18 from the field, including 0/8 from three-point range. There were also 10 fouls against Indiana, and they turned the ball over three times, which led to four big-time points. When you hold the Thunder to 3/16 from three, you’d expect them to win the game.
It wasn’t due to a lack of Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton scored eight of his 18 points in the 4th but went 0/3 from downtown and was a -10. The supporting cast of Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner combined for 5/19 shooting and 2/11 from three. If they want to regain the series lead against the Thunder, those two must bounce back largely!
What Happens Now?
Well, the NBA Finals are a best-of-seven. However, with the series tied 2-2, it is now a best-of-three. Game 5 is pivotal in determining who wins the playoff series. Historically, the team that wins Game 5 in this situation wins the series 82.8% of the time, which makes the next game a “must-win” for both sides.
This has a chance to go to a Game 7, which would be the first time the NBA Finals would go the distance since 2016. It’s been a great playoff, and the best two teams since January have a three-game series ahead of them. They say styles make fights; this has been a heavyweight bout.
Final Thoughts
With the Thunder winning last night, their dream season remains alive. As for the Pacers, they blew away a golden opportunity to put a stranglehold on the series. Game 5 of the NBA Finals will be played on Monday, June 16th, at 8:30 PM EST on ABC. Will the Oklahoma City Thunder go up 3-2 with a chance to close it out on the road, or will the Pacers pull off another upset on the road? I’m eager for Game 5! Thank you so much for checking out my Game 4 recap. Be sure to check out some of our other great content here at New Leaf News!
