Thunder Bring It in the 4th Quarter, Even Finals Up at 2-2

Photo credit: Dylan Buell/Getty Images.

With 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Game 4 on Friday night, the Indiana Pacers led the Oklahoma City Thunder 86-76. The Pacers were out-hustling and out-willing. For the most part they had limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rendered his supporting cast ineffective. 

That all changed in a fourth quarter that saw the Thunder outscore the Pacers 30-17. 

Heading into the final frame, Gilgeous-Alexander was 9-of-18 for 20 points. Jalen Williams was shooting 6-of-14 but had made all 11 of his free-throws and had 23 points. Alex Caruso was 6-of-8 for 17 points. The Thunder were shooting 44.4% from the field and were just 2-of-14 from 3-point range. They finished the game shooting 47.4% though they only shot 3-of-16 in the game from deep. 

But they did not need a perimeter game to win on this night, instead they were relentless in drawing fouls and converting once they got to the line. Williams finished the game 11-of-11 from the stripe, SGA made all 10 of his attempts, and Chet Holmgren went 6-of-6. Caruso made 5-of-7. As a unit the Thunder shot 34-of-38 from the line. 

Obi Toppin through three quarters played a starring role off the Pacer bench with 15 points and 7 assists, but he scored only two points in the fourth. 

The momentum began to swing early in the quarter as the Thunder crept back in the game. With 9:28 remaining in the fourth, Gilgeous-Alexander missed a shot but it was Holmgren who was there for the follow-up. 14 points (4-of-9) and a major 15 rebounds for Holmgren on the night. He dominated the glass on a night where the Pacers’ Myles Turner only secured two. 

Holmgren dunked the ball with 8:37 remaining. 89-88 Pacers. One Caruso free-throw with 8:13 on the clock tied the game. Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Williams exchanged inside scores. 91-91. 

Andrew Nembhard hit a jump shot. 93-91. Free-throws from Turner made the score 95-91. Isaiah Hartenstein scored as did Williams and Haliburton again. 97-95 Pacers. 

Then it was Gilgeous-Alexander who tied things up with an inside shot. Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith both got to the line. 101-97 Pacers with 3:52 remaining. 

Two free-throws from SGA and then a straight-away triple with 2:58 on the clock. 103-102 Pacers. Then Gilgeous-Alexander on the left side drives on Nembhard, subtly extends his elbow to create a bit of space, and steps back, only to lose his footing which causes him to take an extra step when he did not intend to. Still, he converts. 104-103 Thunder in the lead with 2:23 remaining. 

Lu Dort converts one of two from the line and Haliburton misses badly on a step back triple attempt. With 44 seconds on the clock, Gilgeous-Alexander hits two free-throws. He makes four more before the final buzzer sounds. 

In the third quarter, with a lead and the home crowd behind them, it looked like the Pacers were going to take a 3-1 series lead. But the Thunder stayed with it and kept themselves in the game until their superstar could assert himself. 

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points on 12-of-24 with all 10 free-throw makes, while Williams scored 27 points though he shot 8-of-18. Caruso put up 20 off the bench on 7-of-9. His five steals were big. 

Pascal Siakam tallied 20 points with 8 rebounds, 5 steals, and 5 assists on 6-of-15 shooting. He made six of his eight free-throw attempts. 

Haliburton had a difficult shooting night, 7-of-15 from the field and just 1-of-7 from downtown. 18 points and 7 assists for him. He did not truly find a rhythm. Toppin was strong through three quarters but faded in the fourth. Bennedict Mathurin scored 8 points on 5-of-8 but curiously played just 14 minutes. 

43 rebounds and 13 turnovers for the Thunder. 33 rebounds and 15 turnovers for the Pacers. 47.4% shooting for the Thunder to 42.5% for the Pacers. The Pacers did make 11 triples (36 attempts) to the Thunder’s three. Nembhard was 4-of-9 for 10 points. T.J. McConnell, like Mathurin, scored 8. Turner shot 3-of-10. 

Turner must be better on the glass and shooting the ball (he missed all six of his 3-point attempts), but his rebounding is where he really needs to step up. Nine rebounds in Game 1, and eight combined rebounds in Games 2, 3, and 4. 

With an opportunity to take a 3-1 lead heading back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 and all the momentum, the Pacers faltered and Gilgeous-Alexander featured. Now the Thunder will have home court advantage going forward. 

Game 5 is Sunday night.