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With the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder splitting their opening homestands, the 2025 NBA Finals has now turned into a best-of-three series.
The Pacers (2-2) aim to bounce back from a 111-104 loss in Game 4 on Friday night when they take on the Thunder (2-2) for Game 5 on Monday at Paycom Center.
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow Indiana's Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>
In Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers controlled the lead for a majority of the contest before the Thunder closed the fourth quarter with a 12-1 run in the final 3:20 to take homecourt advantage back.
Indiana led by seven points heading into the fourth quarter before the Thunder outscored the Pacers 31-17 in the final frame.
Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 12-for-24 in the game and 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 of his team's final 12 points in the game, and his 15 points in the last five minutes of Game 4 are the most by a player in the final five minutes of an NBA Finals game since 1971.
After Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams scored 27 points, Chet Holmgren had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Alex Caruso produced 20 points off the bench.
Pascal Siakam topped Indiana with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals, Tyrese Haliburton supplied 18 points and seven assists, and Obi Toppin added 17 points for the Pacers.
OKC changed up its lineup in Game 4, inserting 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein into the starting five for guard Cason Wallace. The Thunder had started Hartenstein in previous playoff rounds before opting for Wallace in the championship round.
The Thunder outshot the Pacers 47.4 percent to 42.5 percent despite making a season-low three 3-pointers, while Indiana drained 11 threes. OKC also beat Indiana 50-36 on points in the paint and 43-33 in rebounding.
Fifty-three fouls were called in the game, with the Pacers shooting 25-for-33 on free throws and the Thunder making 34 of 38, including 12-for-14 in the fourth quarter.
While the Pacers were frustrated they let Game 4 slip away, the team remains confident it can steal at least one more game on the road in OKC and ultimately capture the franchise's first championship.
โObviously that's a frustrating loss, but as a group, I still have a lot of confidence in ourselves as a group,โ Haliburton said. โWe've got to be ready to go down there and fight for 48 minutes. It's going to be a challenge, but this group has been resilient all year. I wouldn't want to go to war with any other group. I'm really excited about Game 5.โ
Neither the Thunder nor the Pacers have lost back-to-back games in this postseason. The last time the Pacers dropped two or more in a row was in mid-March. Probable Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Thunder: G - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G - Luguentz Dort, F - Jalen Williams, F - Chet Holmgren, C - Isaiah Hartenstein Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson - out (torn achilles tendon), Jarace Walker - out (right ankle sprain)
Thunder: Nikola Topic - out (left knee surgery) Last Meeting
June 13, 2025: A late fourth-quarter rally pushed the Thunder past the Pacers 111-104 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, including 11 of his teamโs final 12 points, as OKC finished the game on a 12-1 run for the comeback win.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and seven assists, and Obi Toppin supplied 17 points off the bench.
After Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams logged 27 points, Alex Caruso produced 20 points, and Chet Holmgren collected 14 points and 15 rebounds.
The Thunder outshot the Pacers 47.4 percent to 42.5 percent despite making just three 3-pointers, won the rebounding battle 43-33, and had the edge in turnover margin 13-15. OKC also scored 23 second-chance points and outscored the Pacers 50-36 in the paint.
There were 11 ties and six lead changes in the game. Last Meeting
- Indiana is 2-1 in Game 5s this playoffs while the Thunder are 3-0 in those situations.
- The Pacers are 9-2 in clutch games this postseason. Fridayโs loss was just the second time the Pacers failed to win in the clutch.
- OKC is 9-2 at home in the playoffs and the Pacers are 7-3 in road postseason games in 2025.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ABC - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), Richard Jefferson (analyst), Jorge Sedano (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host) Tickets
The Pacers will host Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, June 19 at 8:30 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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