The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Friday with their backs against the wall. There was no need to push the panic button for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company, but being behind 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals with Game 4 still to be played in enemy territory was definitely not an ideal situation for the Western Conference champions.
Before Game 4, seven-time NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill shared his thoughts on the Thunder, as they head to a crucial contest that could heavily dictate the outcome of the series.
"They've been so impressive the last two years, but they're still young in terms of playoff experience,” Hill said when asked whether the Thunder’s youth has affected the team’s play in the finals.
“The bottom line is that youth is going to have to step up, and they've done that,” Hill continued.
“They played Denver [Nuggets], down 2-1 on the road, and they won Game 4. I'm not saying they'll win Game 4 here tonight necessarily, but I don't think they'll be rattled by the moment. They're going to have to make some adjustments. They're going to have to go out and execute and play good basketball.”
Good basketball has been the name of the game for the young Thunder, who are led by the 26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander, for most of the 2025-26 NBA campaign.
During the regular season, the Thunder were third overall in the league with a 119.2 offensive rating and No. 1 with an average of 106.6 points allowed per 100 defensive possessions.
Bennedict Mathurin
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball against Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) during the 2025 NBA Finals.
© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Those need to show in Game 4 -- and the rest of the NBA Finals for Oklahoma City, which has not won an NBA championship since inheriting the franchise from the Seattle SuperSonics.