Down 2-1, the Thunder face the Pacers in a crucial NBA Finals Game 4 on June 13. Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead OKC to a win and even the series?
StatPro NBA Beat Reporter
This is it. Friday, June 13th. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, the entire season, a magical 68-win campaign, and a hard-fought playoff run all come down to this one night in Indianapolis. Trailing the Indiana Pacers 2-1 in the NBA Finals, Game 4 isn't just another game—it's the game that will define the series. A win brings the championship back to level terms; a loss pushes them to the brink of elimination.
We have to be who we are and who we've been all season.
The frustration from Game 3's 116-107 loss still stings. It wasn't that the Thunder didn't show up; it's that they couldn't stay. Flashes of brilliance, like a 15-6 run to open the game and an 8-0 burst to start the third quarter, showed what this team is capable of. But in the other 41 minutes, the Pacers dominated, outscoring OKC 110-84. That lack of a sustained 'killer edge' is exactly what Indiana, led by veteran coach Rick Carlisle, has exploited. To win Game 4, the Thunder can't just be good in spurts; they have to be relentless for the full 48 minutes.
Despite the pressure, the message from the team is one of unwavering composure. 'Being down 2-1 in a series, it can have emotions associated with it, but dragging those into the next experience isn't going to help anybody,' Coach Mark Daigneault told the media. It's a sentiment echoed throughout the locker room. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the engine of this team all year, was clear about the game plan: 'We have to be who we are and who we've been all season.' It's about trusting the system and the identity that earned them the West's top seed, not panicking under the bright lights of the Finals. As guard Alex Caruso put it, the key is to 'get your mind right' for the battle ahead.
The stakes tonight could not be higher. A victory for the Thunder ties the series 2-2, effectively hitting the reset button. More importantly, it would wrestle home-court advantage back to Oklahoma City, with two of the potential final three games scheduled to be played in front of a roaring crowd at Paycom Center. A loss, however, plunges the team into a 3-1 deficit—a historically near-impossible hole to climb out of in the NBA Finals. With the team fully healthy and no roster changes, they have all the pieces they need. This is the moment for the team that blazed through the regular season with a 68-14 record to prove they belong on this stage.
Tonight is more than just a game; it's a test of character, resilience, and identity. The Thunder have the talent, the MVP, and the coaching to even this series. Now, they must execute on the road in the most hostile of environments. Will they rise to the occasion and fly back to OKC with the series tied, or will they face the daunting task of winning three straight? The entire Thunder faithful holds its breath. Tip-off can't come soon enough.
