This one stings. It hurts.
The Indiana Pacers were up by 7 points heading into the fourth quarter and ahead by 4 points with about three and a half minutes to go. A chance to go up 3-1 to take a firm grip on the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder was right there.
Then, the Pacers lost all their flow to the offense as they went 5 for 18 in the final 12 minutes as they scored just 17 points in the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the final five minutes of the game behind a smart tactical decision to have him screen for Jalen Williams, force a switch, and then attack Aaron Nesmith rather than Andrew Nembhard.
Add all of that to the fact that the referees were atrocious (for the entire game) and it was a complete disaster for the final 12 minutes. I’m not calling it the reason for the loss but physicality was being allowed often on huge defensive plays for the Thunder but the Pacers were not afforded the same level of defensive aggression on the other end, often being called for light contact in comparison. While the Thunder only shot 5 more free throws than the Pacers (38-33, a ridiculous 71 total attempted combined for the game), the Thunder certainly got away with more than a few fouls including multiple that led to easy transition points including a “steal” by Caruso in the first half that was an obvious foul that was ignored against Haliburton.
And then this two-handed shove by Lu Dort that should have been free throws for Tyrese Haliburton, who has taken a grand total of 3 in four games through the NBA Finals, with the Pacers in the bonus at the time of the ignored foul instead ending up another steal and eventual Dort free throws. The Pacers gave up far more points off of turnovers in this game (16 turnovers for 25 points for OKC) than they had all series partially because the Thunder would get away with things like this.
Meanwhile, SGA is allowed to use his off hand to push off as much as he likes when he has the ball and take an extra step or shuffle his pivot foot when needed, but the Pacers can’t touch him or Jalen Williams as they combined to take 21 free throws for the game as Nesmith fouled out again.
The Indiana Pacers didn’t take the post-game interviews as a chance to vent about the referees or blame them for the loss so I’ll do my own little therapy session here. There was one call where Pascal Siakam got called for briefly holding Alex Caruso off the ball as Caruso went towards the ball handler to set a screen. It’s something that OKC does to Haliburton on nearly every possession with it never being called a foul. Siakam was frustrated multiple times in this game after there would be plays where he felt like contact was ignored when the Pacers had the ball only for a whistle to be blown in favor of OKC on following possession. Dort knocked over Haliburton during a free throw at one point. No review. Aaron Nesmith got pushed out of bounds with no call for a Pacers turnover.
Obi Toppin got called for a flagrant foul in the first half despite making a clear play on the ball and then the referees had to be begged to take a look at Toppin being hit in the head by Dort later in the half. It was at least ruled a flagrant as well. I think they crowd set a record for most “ref, you suck” chants in a single game and loudest/highest participation rate for a “ref, you suck” chant. Some sections near the media in the balcony started chanting “F— Scott Foster.”
Let me be clear, the Pacers still had their chances to win this game and they blew it by not making the good shots they did get, allow in too many offensive rebounds, missing key free throws to end the third and fourth quarters, and just becoming far too stagnant in the fourth in a rare bad clutch performance for the group. The Pacers lost by 7 and missed 8 free throws total. They take better advantage of their opportunities and they can still get the W despite the frustration with the officiating crew. They didn’t play with pace in the fourth quarter like they do at their best … but you know what makes it hard to get out and run? The other team constantly shooting free throws.
You’ll never guess who the crew chief was tonight. The Extender, himself, Scott Foster. He sure made his presence known. What a referee show he put on for all the people that paid so much money to come this game tonight to see him blow that whistle.
The Pacers had their chances and still should have found a way to win this one tonight. Despite the blown chance, the series isn’t anywhere near over. This is still the greatest opportunity you can ask for in a basketball career. It’s now a best-of-three series and the Pacers must win at least one more game in OKC and they’ll need Game 6 in Indy.
They are two wins away from their first NBA Championship. They haven’t lost back to back games since March. They’ve been resilient after losses the entire playoff run. Plenty of guys are poised for bounce back performances, Myles Turner has made just 2 of 15 from deep in the last 3 games as his shots continue to come up short from 3. Aaron Nesmith has struggled defensively against both of the Thunder’s best players and missed all of his shots from inside the arc and was 2 for 9 overall. Tyrese went just 1 for 7 from 3 including a rare clutch miss with a a chance to take the lead with just under two minutes left when he airballed a 3-pointer. Pascal Siakam was incredible all night but the Pacers were unable to get him the ball in the 4th as he attempted just one shot. Lots of guys can and need to play better.
But damn, an even whistle wouldn’t hurt.
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