Pacers and Thunder Clash Again in Pivotal Game 4 of NBA Finals
Just two days after their last showdown, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to battle once more in Game 4 of the NBA Finals this Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers capitalized on home-court advantage in Game 3, rallying from behind to secure a 116-107 victory and take a 2-1 series lead. Now, the pressure shifts to the Thunder, who must respond to avoid falling into a daunting 3-1 hole before heading back to Oklahoma for Game 5.
Pacers Riding Momentum After Another Gritty Win
Returning home for the first time since clinching the Eastern Conference title, Indiana delivered another thrilling playoff performance on Thursday. Despite sluggish starts in both halves, the Pacers turned up the heat in the fourth quarter, outplaying the Thunder to seal the win.
Bennedict Mathurin was the spark off the bench, dropping a game-high 27 points—the most ever in a Finals game by a player logging 22 minutes or fewer. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists.
History favors the Pacers—teams that win Game 3 after splitting the first two games go on to claim the title 80% of the time. If they maintain their defensive intensity (forcing 17 turnovers in Game 3), they could move one step closer to the championship.
Thunder Look to Regroup After Crumbling Late
Oklahoma City finds itself in familiar territory—down 2-1, just as they were against Denver in the second round. After a strong Game 2 win and stretches of dominance in Game 3, the Thunder collapsed in the fourth quarter, getting outscored by 14 points in their worst playoff quarter yet.
Despite the loss, their trio of stars—Jalen Williams (26 pts), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 pts), and Chet Holmgren (20 pts)—combined for 65% of the team’s scoring. The Thunder haven’t lost back-to-back games this postseason, but their recent road struggles (just two wins in their last six away games) raise concerns.
With a 3-1 deficit historically near-impossible to overcome, Oklahoma City must win Game 4 to keep their title hopes alive. Saturday’s matchup isn’t just another game—it could decide the fate of the series.
Who will seize control? Tune in Saturday to find out.
