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The Oklahoma Thunder used a fourth-quarter comeback against the host Indiana Pacers on Friday night to pull out a 111-104 victory and tie up the NBA Finals at two games apiece.
The Pacers led for much of the game and had a chance to take a decisive lead in the series, but faltered down the stretch.
The best-of-seven series heads back to Oklahoma on Monday night.
The Game 4 winner tends to end up winning the NBA Finals: It has worked out that way in 15 of the last 19 seasons.
Jalen Williams added 27, Alex Caruso had 20 and Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Thunder. They did it the hard way—with a season-low three 3-pointers, and no assists from Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time all season.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 for Indiana, which got 18 from Tyrese Haliburton and 17 from Obi Toppin.
Game 5 of the series—now essentially a best-of-three—is at Oklahoma City on Monday night, with the Thunder now having reclaimed home-court advantage.
And the Thunder basically saved their realistic chance at winning the title. Teams with a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals have gone on to win the championship 37 times in 38 past chances. The Pacers looked well on their way to being the 39th team with such an edge, before the Thunder found their game in the nick of time.
The MVP led the way, too. Gilgeous-Alexander had nine straight points down the stretch as the Thunder took control.
The Pacers came out flying, scoring 20 points in the first 4:59–only the second time all season the Thunder gave up so many so quickly. They led by as many as nine early, but were unable to pull away.
And things got chippy for the first time in the series: Toppin was called for a Flagrant 1 on Caruso midway through the second quarter, then Toppin was the recipient of a Flagrant 1 from Lu Dort just before the half. The Pacers closed on a 15-6 run, taking a 60-57 lead into the break.
Toppin’s baseline dunk late in the third put Indiana up 86-76, its first double-digit lead of the series coming late in the 15th quarter of the series. Back came OKC: A 13-3 run tied the game early in the fourth at 89, the first of a handful of those down the stretch.
Tied at 91. Tied at 95. Tied at 97.
And, finally, the lead: Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back with 2:23 left put the Thunder up 104-103, their first lead of the second half. They kept it the rest of the way.
OKLAHOMA CITY (111)
Holmgren 4-9 6-6 14, Jal.Williams 8-18 11-11 27, Hartenstein 1-3 0-0 2, Dort 2-2 1-2 6, Gilgeous-Alexander 12-24 10-10 35, K.Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Caruso 7-9 5-7 20, Joe 0-1 0-0 0, Wallace 1-5 0-0 2, Wiggins 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 37-78 34-38 111.
INDIANA (104)
Nesmith 2-9 2-2 8, Siakam 6-15 6-8 20, Turner 3-10 6-6 12, Haliburton 7-15 3-3 18, Nembhard 4-9 0-0 10, Toppin 7-12 1-4 17, Mathurin 1-2 5-8 8, McConnell 3-7 2-2 8, Sheppard 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 34-80 25-33 104.
| Oklahoma City | 34 | 23 | 23 | 31 | — | 111 |
| Indiana | 35 | 25 | 27 | 17 | — | 104 |
3-Point Goals_Oklahoma City 3-17 (Dort 1-1, Caruso 1-2, Gilgeous-Alexander 1-4, Joe 0-1, K.Williams 0-1, Wiggins 0-1, Holmgren 0-2, Wallace 0-2, Jal.Williams 0-3), Indiana 11-36 (Nembhard 2-4, Nesmith 2-5, Toppin 2-5, Siakam 2-6, Sheppard 1-1, Mathurin 1-2, Haliburton 1-7, Turner 0-6). Fouled Out_Oklahoma City None, Indiana 2 (Nesmith, Turner). Rebounds_Oklahoma City 43 (Holmgren 15), Indiana 33 (Nesmith 9). Assists_Oklahoma City 10 (Jal.Williams 3), Indiana 21 (Haliburton 7). Total Fouls_Oklahoma City 26, Indiana 28. A_17,274 (20,000)
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Free throws killed the pacers seem like the referees were a little heavy-handed in Colin files against the pacers as opposed to Oklahoma thunder.