Thunder Even Series with Nuggets, Pacers Decimate Cavaliers, Take 3-1 Lead

In a pair of Game 4’s on Sunday, one series ended up tied at 2-2 while another saw one team take commanding control. 

In the 3:30 p.m. game, the Oklahoma City Thunder staved off the Denver Nuggets 92-87 while in the 8:00 p.m. night game in Indianapolis the Pacers crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109. 

From Ball Arena, the Oklahoma City Thunder evened their series up with the Nuggets at two games apiece. 

What started out as an ugly game  - 17-8 after the first quarter, tying for the lowest combined score in NBA playoff first quarter history - remained ugly throughout.

After a first quarter in which the Nuggets shot 2-for-22 (0-for-14 from 3-point range) and in which the Thunder shot 1-for-11 from deep, both teams for the game barely made it to the field-goal

finish line that stood at a whopping 36%. For the game, the Thunder made just 31-of-87 from the field (35.6%), and the Nuggets made 25-of-80 (31.3%). From downtown, the Thunder were 10-for-41, the Nuggets 11-for-45. 

The contest looked akin to two people attempting to bust a pinata with blindfolds on. Despite repeated futile attempts at the basket from deep, each side insisted on trying to find the bottom of the net. Eventually, it ended up being the Thunder, who made six more shots. For large stretches of the game though, especially in the first quarter, the road team attempted too many from long distance when they were not going down, allowing the Nuggets to stay in the game despite their greater rate of misfire. 

The Nuggets were actually leading 73-69 going into the fourth quarter, but the Thunder got nine fourth quarter points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals on 8-for-19 shooting for the game), and six final frame points from both Jalen Williams (10 points, 2-for-13 from downtown, 6-for-6 from the line for the game) and Cason Wallace. Wallace ironically had the most efficient game for the Thunder, going 4-for-7 for 11 points in 23 minutes. Aaron Wiggins off the bench scored 11 points in 16 minutes (4-for-8 from the field, 3-for-6 from deep). Alex Caruso was 2-for-5 from downtown for 10 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams were the only Thunder starters to finish in double figures, as Lu Dort was 2-for-10 (all from three) for 6 points. Isaiah Hartenstein rebounded resiliently with 14, but even he struggled going 3-for-7 for 8 points. Chet Holmgren had 13 rebounds (4-for-10) and he too had 8 points. 

On the Denver side, Nikola Jokic led with 27 points (13 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists) but he only made 7-of-22 shots in 43 minutes and was 2-for-8 from downtown (11-for-14 from the line). Jamal Murray (5-for-15) and Christian Braun (4-for-11) each scored 15 points, Murray going 5-for-6 from the line and Braun 7-for-8 from the stripe. Michael Porter Jr. had 9 rebounds but was only 1-of-7 for 3 points (0-for-5 from deep). Aaron Gordon was a bright spot, with 15 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block on 5-for-10 shooting. He was 3-for-7 from downtown. Russell Westbrook in 27 minutes was 2-for-12 (2-for-9 from deep) for 6 points. Despite putting up big numbers in the series (26.5 points, 14.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists), Jokic is shooting 21-for-63 in his last three games. After Game 3, he said that he was the worst player on the court. 

An undeniable stretch of a statement given that he is likely the best player in the NBA. But one thing is true about Game No. 4 in this series. It was a game that only a mother could love. 

From Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Pacers demolished the Cavaliers in a 20-point win that was more of a rout than the final score indicated. Make that two games on Sunday that only a mother would take a second look at. 

The Pacers raced out to a 38-23 lead after the first quarter, and went on a 17-0 run late in the half that gave them a massive 78-37 advantage after 24 minutes. Aaron Nesmith finished the half with a jump shot, which was the seventh consecutive make for the Pacers at the time, as they led 80-39 at the break. While the Cavaliers were a putrid 8-for-32 from the field and 5-for-19 from deep in the opening half, the Pacers connected on 30-of-50 shots, made 12-of-18 from deep and had a 22-15 advantage on the boards. Myles Turner had 18 points at halftime on 7-for-11 shooting with 5 rebounds, while Obi Toppin had 13 points off the bench in 15 minutes and Pascal Siakam scored 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Tyrese Haliburton had 11 first half points. 

Siakam finished with 21 points and 6 rebounds on 9-for-10 in just 21 minutes, Turner 20 points and 7 rebounds on 7-for-13 in 22 minutes, and Toppin 20 points and 5 rebounds on 9-for-14 shooting in 21 minutes. The Pacers shot 52.7% from the field for the game and 15-for-35 from downtown. The Cavaliers shot 42.9% and made 14-of-35 from downtown. Normally, those numbers would equal a competitive game, but the Pacers rested their starters for most of the second half in the blowout. 

Donovan Mitchell, after 12 points on 3-for-11 in the first half, injured his ankle warming up for the third quarter and did not return. Darius Garland scored 21 points with 6 assists on 6-for-11 shooting to lead the Cavaliers, and Max Strus was 3-for-7 from deep for 11 points. Isaac Okoro off the bench in 19 minutes scored 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, while Jaylon Tyson in 12 minutes scored 11 points (two 3-point makes and five free-throws). 

Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen did not show up - Mobley 10 points and 5 rebounds on 3-for-7 in 27 minutes and Allen 2 points and 2 rebounds in 20 minutes. What was supposed to be a paint advantage for the Cavaliers in the series has not turned out to be the case.

Instead, the Cavaliers, 64 wins during the regular season, go home for Game 5 on Tuesday night reeling and facing elimination. After getting blitzed in Game 1, their Game 2 gaffe last Tuesday put them down 2-0 and they really have not recovered despite Friday’s win. 

One of the NBA’s top teams is staggered, trying to get their bearings. The Pacers are moving in, looking for the perfect window, the tiniest of openings, to deliver the knockout blow. 

We will see what happens on Tuesday.