The energy inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse for OKC vs Pacers Game 4 felt heavy. You could almost taste the desperation in the air. Indiana was up 2-1 in the series. They had all the momentum. If Oklahoma City dropped this one, they’d be staring down a 3-1 deficit, a hole that usually leads to a vacation and a whole lot of "what if" conversations in the locker room.
Honestly, the Pacers looked like they had it. They were playing with that house-money confidence that comes from being an underdog who finally realized they belong on the big stage. But the Thunder? They basically decided they weren't going out like that.
The Fourth Quarter Blitz That Saved OKC
If you missed the final twelve minutes, you missed the season. It’s that simple. Heading into the fourth, the Pacers were holding onto a slim lead. The crowd was deafening. But then, things got weird.
Oklahoma City put on a defensive masterclass that turned the arena into a library. They held the high-powered Indiana offense to just 17 points in the final frame. 17 points! For a team that lives and breathes transition buckets and high-octane scoring, that's basically a drought.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was everywhere. He finished with 35 points, but here’s the kicker—he had zero assists. Literally none. It was the first time since Jerry West in 1962 that someone dropped 35+ in a Finals game without a single dime. He just decided he was the most efficient way to get two points, and he was right.
By The Numbers: The Box Score Reality
- Final Score: OKC 111, Indiana 104
- SGA's Line: 35 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Steals
- Jalen Williams: 27 Points (12 of which came in a frantic first quarter)
- Pascal Siakam: 20 Points, 8 Rebounds
- The Run: OKC ended the game on a 12-1 tear.
The Pacers basically choked. I know that’s a harsh word to use for a team that made it to the Finals, but they went 2-for-7 from the field in the last four minutes. Bennedict Mathurin, who had been a hero earlier in the series, had a nightmare stretch where he missed crucial free throws and committed a boneheaded away-from-the-play foul on SGA that basically gifted OKC the win.
Why This Game Changed the Series History
Most people talk about Game 7, and yeah, that’s where the trophy was won. But OKC vs Pacers Game 4 was the pivot point. It tied the series at 2-2. More importantly, it broke the Pacers' spirit at home.
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Indiana had this weird stat where they were nearly unbeatable when Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 or more. In Game 4, the Thunder defense hounded him. He finished with 18. Close, but in the Finals, "close" is just a fancy way of saying you lost.
The Thunder also set an all-time NBA record this night. They passed the 2018-19 Golden State Warriors for the most total points scored in a single season (regular season plus playoffs combined). It’s a testament to how deep this roster actually was. You’ve got Chet Holmgren anchoring the paint—he had 15 rebounds in this game—and J-Dub (Jalen Williams) proving he’s a legitimate second star.
The Mathurin Sequence
Let's talk about those last 44 seconds. It was chaotic.
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Mathurin fouled out, but before that, he had a sequence that Pacers fans are going to remember for the wrong reasons. He missed three straight free throws. Then, on an inbound play, he tackled Shai before the ball was even in play. Under NBA rules, that’s one free throw and possession for the other team. It was a massive mental lapse in the highest-stakes moment possible.
What This Means for Future Matchups
When these two teams meet now, there’s a different vibe. The 2025 Finals proved that OKC’s "rebuild" wasn't just a success; it was a blueprint.
For the Pacers, Game 4 remains the "one that got away." If they hit their free throws, they go up 3-1. If they don't go cold for the final four minutes, they likely win their first NBA title. Instead, they let the Thunder gain the confidence they needed to take the series back to Oklahoma City and eventually win it all in seven.
If you're looking to understand the rivalry, don't just look at the championship trophy. Look at the tape of that fourth quarter in Indiana. Look at the way SGA manipulated the defense without ever needing to pass. That's where the legend of this current Thunder era was truly born.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Replay: If you can find the "Final 6:09" highlights of Game 4, watch how Mark Daigneault adjusted his defensive rotations to trap Haliburton at the timeline.
- Monitor the Injury Reports: Both teams have evolved since this series, but the core matchup of Chet vs. Myles Turner remains the tactical key to whenever they play.
- Check the Betting Trends: OKC has remained a dominant "bounce-back" team since this series, maintaining a perfect record in the 2025 postseason after a loss.