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INDIANAPOLIS – While no one is claiming the dramatic moments and fluctuations of the 2025 NBA Finals are preordained, it certainly felt familiar late Friday night.
In Game 4, with the Oklahoma City Thunder trailing 2-1 in the series and facing yet another loss on the road, they found themselves down by six points with only 12 minutes remaining. However, through a remarkable defensive effort, they surged ahead, outscoring the Indiana Pacers by double digits during the final quarter.
This scenario mirrored an earlier moment from a month ago when OKC made a similar late-game comeback in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal against Denver, which propelled them to win Game 5 at home and advance after a seven-game series.
On this occasion, in the Finals, the Thunder faced the Pacers down 87-80 at the end of the third quarter. But in a reversal of fate, OKC dominated Indiana in the fourth quarter with a 31-17 scoring advantage rather than the expected downturn, leading them to a 111-104 win that equalized the series and reclaimed home-court advantage as they head back for Game 5 on Monday at 8:30 ET on ABC.
The Pacers nearly extended their lead to 12 points early in the third when Obi Toppin, a standout for Indiana off the bench, missed two free throws after the score was 86-76. Pascal Siakam also missed a chance, allowing the Thunder to close the gap to seven points by the end of the quarter.
Despite this, Indiana seemed to be in command, showing more energy and approaching a segment of the game where they had excelled. Up to that point, they had outscored Oklahoma City 100-73 in the fourth quarter of the first three games.
However, this game took a different trajectory.
A series of missed three-pointers and a failed entry pass aimed at Toppin fueled a 9-2 run that saw the Thunder tie the game at 89-89. Indiana began to look uneasy as OKC extended their defensive pressure further from the basket. With each possession, the Pacers appeared increasingly trapped, forced to operate in a tight space between the half-court line and the three-point arc.
Whether it was defensive stalwart Lu Dort, versatile big Chet Holmgren, tenacious Alex Caruso, standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or others, the Thunder made every decision a challenge for the home side.
“Great execution on our part,” said OKC coach Mark Daigneault. “We made them work hard for everything, just showcasing our competitive spirit.”
Oklahoma City’s assertive play disrupted Indiana’s ball handlers and even their simplest passing sequences, relegating the Pacers’ offense primarily to free throws from physical contact in the paint. Although Indiana briefly regained a 101-97 lead with 3:52 left in the game, it quickly became insufficient.
The turning point came when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had been relatively quiet with only 20 points up to that point, exploded for 15 in the fourth quarter, helping flip the momentum. He scored seven points during OKC’s next three possessions, putting the Thunder ahead 104-103 with 2:21 remaining.
From that point on, the Pacers faltered. After a timeout, they passed the ball around the perimeter hesitantly, seemingly unwilling to take initiative. This led to a critical turnover as Dort intercepted a handoff between Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton, halting Indiana’s momentum at a bad moment.
“Lu particularly set an incredible defensive tone in the fourth quarter,” Daigneault noted. “His energy was infectious. We had impressive contributions from various players, but that made a significant difference.”
The Pacers’ struggles to score appeared to undermine their defensive intensity as well. They managed only one point during the final stretch of the game, leading to a 14-3 score differential over the last 3:52.
Other statistics for Indiana were equally poor. They shot almost 47% from the field and 39.3% from three-point range through three quarters, but dipped to 5-for-18 (27.8%) and 0-for-8 in the fourth. Additionally, they were out-rebounded 12-4, with the Thunder matching their total in offensive rebounds during that quarter.
In the first three games, Indiana scored 100 points on 70 possessions (1.43 per possession) in fourth quarters; this time, they managed just 17 points on 21 possessions (0.81).
“We stayed resilient in the third quarter… They had the momentum, and we encountered some disheartening plays,” noted Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “It could have been easy to throw in the towel, but we kept it competitive and executed well in the fourth.”
“I thought they switched to a smaller lineup with four guards, and that threw us off our rhythm,” reflected Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
“I need to be more effective at maintaining pace during the game,” Haliburton added. “We must improve at capitalizing on stops and pushing tempo. Too often in the fourth quarter, we committed fouls and had to reset, rather than playing free-flowing basketball.”
“Their dominance on second-chance opportunities was a significant issue. When you can’t secure rebounds, maintaining a good pace and rhythm becomes very difficult… They kept pressing and played excellent defense down the stretch,” commented Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
Indiana typically relies on its offensive prowess, with players often fixating on improving their late-game shooting. Carlisle lamented the rebounding disparity, but this match highlighted the significance of determination, as OKC recognized the urgency of seizing a victory with under four minutes remaining. Regardless of their poor three-point shooting (3-for-16) or low assist count (11), the Thunder were determined to avoid being in a 3-1 series hole.
Now, the series stands tied, presenting the Pacers with the challenge of securing at least one victory in the hostile environment of Paycom Center (Game 5: Monday, 8:30 ET, ABC). The Thunder, who led the NBA with 68 wins in the regular season, have secured 14 playoff victories and aim for two more, with players understanding that win number 84 would come with a trophy.
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Steve Aschburner has covered the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email, explore his archive, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
