Thunder Edge Pacers to Even NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder achieved a 111-104 win at Gainbridge Field House on Friday night, tying the NBA Finals series against the Indiana Pacers at two games each. It was quite the nail-biter, especially in the fourth quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was pivotal in the comeback, scoring 15 of his impressive 35 points during that final stretch. He notably put up nine straight points, helping push his team ahead after a challenging game.

The Pacers started strong, racking up 20 points within the first five minutes. The Thunder, for the second time this season, found themselves in a tough spot early, even leading by as much as nine, but they couldn’t pull away entirely.

This match also saw tensions rise on the court. Obi Toppin received a Flagrant 1 foul against Alex Caruso mid-quarter, and moments later, Toppin himself took a Flagrant 1 from Luguentz Dort before halftime. By the break, the Pacers led 60-57 after a solid 15-6 run.

A Toppin dunk put Indiana ahead 86-76 during the third quarter, marking their first double-digit lead of the series. But the Thunder had other plans. They rallied with a 13-3 run to tie the game at 89 early in the fourth.

As the game intensified, the score was equalized multiple times—91, then 95, and again at 97. Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back shot finally gave the Thunder a 104-103 lead with just over two minutes left.

Jalen Williams contributed significantly, finishing with 27 points, while Alex Caruso scored 20. Chet Holmgren also made an impact, putting up 14 points along with 15 rebounds. Interestingly, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his points without any assists, a rarity for him this season.

For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam led with 20 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 18 and Toppin finished with 17.

Game 5 is set for Monday night in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to leverage their home court advantage.