Thunder Stun Pacers in Game 4: Did Indiana’s NBA Finals Dream Just Slip Away?

INDIANAPOLIS — Alright, here’s the skinny: The Indiana Pacers just took a tough 111-104 hit against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that dominated the regular season with a staggering 68-win record. Now, the series is all tied up, and both teams are jetting back to OKC, with the Thunder still holding the heavy favorite tag in this NBA Finals showdown—no shock there. But, man, don’t tell that to Obi Toppin. The guy’s got fire: “Nah, I felt like we should have got this one today,” he said, eyes burning with a mix of frustration and resolve. And you know what? They really should have. With Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch layup putting the Pacers up 103-99 with just a little over three minutes left, Indiana was practically tasting a 3-1 series lead—something almost unheard of in these finals. Then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander decided to rewrite the script, outscoring Indiana 11-1 in the dying minutes, clutching a victory that saved the Thunder’s season and put the spotlight back on the league MVP.

The Pacers had done an impressive job for most of the game, but when it mattered most, their usually crisp passing dissolved into isolation plays, and their rhythm faltered. Coach Rick Carlisle knows this grind is brutal—and that it’s supposed to be—but the sting of dropping this game will linger. Still, with three games left on the table, the fight’s far from over. This is playoff basketball at its finest: thrilling, heart-wrenching, and utterly unpredictable. LEARN MORE.

It was a celebration inside the underdog’s house.AdvertisementAdvertisement

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That included a wrestling-style promo from former Indianapolis Colts punter turned ESPN personality Pat McAfee, who, with 9:28 remaining in the fourth, hyped up the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd, as the Pacers led, 89-86, and seemed to be in control of the game, the series, and their championship dreams.AdvertisementAdvertisement