The Indiana Pacers were 12 minutes away from taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, but the Oklahoma City Thunder moved to 6-0 in the playoffs after a loss, winning 111-104 to even the series 2-2. As the series heads back to OKC, here are five takeaways from Game 4.
1. The Pacers did their finest work yet on SGA…until the very end
It was almost time to send out a search party for the league MVP. Andrew Nembhard and the Indiana Pacers did their best job yet defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA had a quiet 12 points in the first half and did not attempt a free throw until the 6:09 mark of the third quarter.
Nembhard was SGA’s shadow for 94 feet and kept the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands more than the Thunder would like early on. He routinely played off the ball and went without an assist for the first time since 2020, per StatMuse.
But when OKC needed him most, the MVP rose to the occasion. SGA scored 23 points in the second half, including 15 in the final 4:38 of the game to seal the win. He finished 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. After a disappointing fourth quarter in Game 3 and a quiet first half to open Game 4, it was SGA’s MVP moment that OKC sorely needed.
