INDIANAPOLIS — Nothing came easy in perhaps the biggest game in Thunder history.
The Thunder had the historic defense, but it looked more and more like the Indiana Pacers had the championship defense. Then came the last three minutes of the NBA Finals’ Game 4.
That’s when the Thunder gave Indiana no good shots, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came through like he’s the most valuable player in the league or something, and OKC bested the Pacers 111-104 Thursday night.
With the series tied 2-2, the Finals move back to Oklahoma for Game 5 Monday night, and the Thunder has regained homecourt advantage.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton scored on four straight possessions, the final an arching layup that gave Indiana a 103-99 lead. From that point on, the Pacers missed all five of their shots, committed a turnover and even missed three of their four foul shots.
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In total, Indiana scored just 17 fourth-quarter points, making just five of 18 shots, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range.
Mark Daigneauolt, whose rotations always are in question, pushed the right buttons at the end of the game. The quintet of Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso finished the game and put the Pacers in a lockbox.
Meanwhile, the Thunder scored on 12 of 16 possessions from early in the fourth quarter until the final 25 seconds. Credit Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting through three quarters but produced 15 fourth-quarter points.
“He’s unreal, obviously,” Daingeault. “He really closed that thing offensively.”
With Indiana up 103-99, SGA nailed a wing 3-pointer. To that point, the Thunder had made just two of 16 long balls.
The Thunder, a team that some had questioned had the experience to win at the end of close games, shined down the stretch.
Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard missed a wild drive, and SGA gave OKC its first lead of the second half, with a 13-footer. Dort made a steal and a foul shot. Holmgren held his own when stuck one-on-one with Haliburton, then settled for a contested 3-pointer that didn’t draw iron.
Eventually, SGA drew a foul, made two foul shots and the Thunder led 107-103 with 44 seconds left. The defense didn’t let up, and OKC had the game that turns this series back the Thunder’s way. We might soon be putting championship defense on the Thunder resume’.
berry.tramel@tulsaworld.com
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