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The stakes are high. A chance to equalize the series or fall behind 3-1.
In this crucial moment of the season, the Thunder turned to their MVP.
**FIVE HEADLINES IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀**
June 14, 2025
**MVP Takes Charge:** Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s late-game brilliance leads OKC to a 2-2 tie in the series.
**Establishing Dominance:** Discover how OKC transformed the 4th quarter into a game-changing victory.
**Classic Moment:** After four exhilarating games, this Finals matchup is set for an epic conclusion.
**Live Coverage:** SGA’s pregame routines, the vibrant atmosphere in Indy, and courtside moments from OKC’s victory.
**Memorable Moment:** A look back at the iconic shot that secured Michael Jordan’s sixth championship with the Bulls.
**BUT FIRST… ⏰**
Back to OKC…
As the Finals stand at 2-2, the series heads to Oklahoma City for a crucial Game 5 on Monday (8:30 ET, ABC).
**Today’s Top Reads:** Catch up on the latest headlines from the NBA following a thrilling Game 4.
1. **SGA Seizes the Moment, Thunder Level Series**
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Trailing by 10 in the late third quarter on the road, facing a possible 3-1 series hole in front of a lively Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Thunder found themselves in a precarious position.
Yet, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates kept their composure. They stayed calm and steadily narrowed the gap against the Pacers.
Thunder 111, Pacers 104: SGA erupted for 15 of his game-high 35 points in the final 4:38—hitting a three-pointer and a sleek baseline jumper on consecutive plays that put OKC ahead for good, culminating in a closing 12-1 run to level the Finals at 2-2. | Recap
Shai has a reputation for scoring, and Friday marked his 32nd game of the season (regular and postseason) with 35+ points—surpassing any other player by 10 games.
However, this performance was distinct. He entered the clutch period with 20 points on 9-of-21 shooting, having missed six consecutive attempts, as Indiana’s defense pressured him relentlessly, applying full-court pressure, employing physical play, and sending timely double-teams to restrict his driving lanes.
Despite being the second youngest team ever to reach the Finals, the Thunder displayed a level of composure and control down the stretch that belies their age.
They played with urgency but not chaos.
It all began with the 26-year-old MVP.
With this victory, the series is tied as the Finals return to Oklahoma City for a decisive Game 5 on Monday (8:30 ET, ABC).
The significance of Monday’s game cannot be overstated. Teams that win Game 5 in a 2-2 Finals series have gone on to win the championship 74.2% of the time (23-8).
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
“The Pacers truly outperformed us in the 4th quarter,” reflected Thunder coach Mark Daigneault on Game 3. “They brought incredible energy, played physically, and maintained their intensity.”
“Now, we need to assert our identity and play to our strengths… we must be true to ourselves.”
With their backs against the wall, OKC rose to the occasion once again.
**Winning Culture:** Leading the league in steals and points generated from turnovers this season, perhaps no player epitomized the Thunder’s essence more on Friday than Alex Caruso—the only member of the Thunder with previous Finals experience.
In this crucial contest, the oldest player in OKC’s lineup (31) and a former 2020 NBA champion stepped up when it mattered most.
Maddie Meyer + Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
**Spark of Experience:** Caruso’s veteran composure harmonized with youthful dynamism—not just from SGA, but also from teammates, as Williams and Chet Holmgren made their presence felt through aggression and grit, countering every blow from the Pacers.
**Fearless and Unflappable:** Now, the youngest team to make the Finals in nearly five decades possesses a record of resilience that is nearly unparalleled in NBA history.
3. **INSTANT CLASSIC: 2025 FINALS KICKS OFF WITH A BANG**
Only four games into the 2025 NBA Finals, and the series has already provided:
A confrontation between the top two teams in the league—the second-youngest Finals cohort ever—has been filled with excitement and momentum, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
There’s a saying in boxing that “styles make fights,” and this rings true for basketball series as well.
**What’s Next:** Now tied at 2-2 through four games, the series is a best-of-three as it heads to Game 5 back in Oklahoma City on Monday. Which team will inch one win closer to claiming the Larry O’Brien Trophy?
4. **ALL-ACCESS: BEHIND THE SCENES OF A CRUCIAL THUNDER VICTORY**
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Before showcasing his talent in the Finals once more, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took a moment to sign an autograph for a young fan.
“I’ll be back for this,” he assured while borrowing her pen. And indeed he returned—just as he would lead his team back to glory hours later.
Focused, relaxed, and guiding the Thunder through hostile territory, SGA adhered to his pregame routine—steady and composed as the energy in Gainbridge Fieldhouse surged with anticipation.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
As fans packed the venue, excitement electrified the atmosphere—Game 4 was officially underway.
5. **MEMORABLE: THE SHOT THAT SECURED SIX FOR JORDAN’S BULLS**
Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
This moment is embedded in basketball history—Michael Jordan, soaring, holding his follow-through, watching his shot swish through the net with 5.2 seconds remaining in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
With a 3-2 series lead and the Bulls down by one against the Jazz, Chicago needed one final defensive stand and one last basket to clinch their sixth championship in eight years.
Jordan delivered on both fronts.
It began with a perfectly executed steal from Karl Malone in the post. Then came the decisive shot. Jordan brought the ball up calmly, isolated Bryon Russell, drove hard to the right, made a quick stop, crossed over, and elevated for a jumper from 20 feet out.
Swish. 87-86, Bulls.
This was the final shot Jordan took as a Chicago Bull—a definitive dagger that secured Chicago’s second three-peat and, in his view, highlighted the most hard-won championship of them all.
“We had to come in and perform at our best… I think this is the toughest championship we have ever won,” he remarked.
“It was a long journey. Many challenges and obstacles along the way, but we managed to persevere. This season will leave a lasting impression on everyone who witnesses it.”
Relive the cinematic, never-before-seen footage of Game 6 of the 1998 Finals—one of the NBA’s most iconic encounters.
