Thunder's Dramatic Surge Turns the NBA Finals
Just when the Indiana Pacers looked poised to take control of the NBA Finals, the Thunder had other plans. Down by seven with less than 11 minutes on the clock, Oklahoma City found another gear, blitzing Indiana in the closing stretch and stunning a roaring Paycom Center crowd with a 111-104 victory. It’s now a brand-new series—knotted at 2-2—and the stakes just shot through the roof.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played like a man on a mission. His 35 points came with style and urgency, slicing through Pacers defenders and capitalizing every time OKC needed a spark. Whether it was strong finishes at the rim in traffic, tough mid-range jumpers, or a key steal late, he never let Indiana get comfortable. Jalen Williams refused to be outshined, dropping 27 points of his own and hitting big shots whenever the Thunder’s offense sputtered. Their scoring punch proved essential as Oklahoma City clawed back from a deficit that at one point had those in blue starting to sweat.
The Pacers, meanwhile, seemed to have it figured out through three quarters. Pascal Siakam was everywhere—dropping 20 points, snagging eight rebounds, and creating chaos with five steals. Add in the hustle from Indiana's supporting cast, and it felt like the Pacers had finally cracked their road woes. But the wheels suddenly came off in the fourth quarter.
That’s when Oklahoma City—known for its high-octane offense—flipped the script. Having trailed by seven with 10:56 left, the Thunder shut things down on the defensive side. Turnovers, forced shots, and swarming perimeter defense became the norm. Indiana mustered only one point during OKC’s relentless 12-1 run to finish the contest. The crowd fed off every stop and bucket, and suddenly, the Thunder found themselves in the driver’s seat as the final horn blared.
Momentum Shifts and What's Next
This win carries more weight than just evening the series. It’s a signal—the Thunder aren’t backing down. Their closing 12-1 run wasn't just about offense; it was a full-team commitment to getting stops and playing efficient, gutsy basketball down the stretch. Oklahoma City outscored Indiana by 14 in the last quarter, showing resilience and poise even with the pressure of a Finals loss looming.
For the Pacers, the sting of this collapse leaves big questions heading into Game 5. They saw solid outings from Siakam and support from the bench, but simply couldn’t solve OKC’s late-game defense. Mental errors piled up, and Frank Vogel’s squad suddenly must regroup as they head into what’s now a best-of-three series. Every possession, every turnover, every defensive lapse is magnified from here on out.
The Finals just became the ultimate gut check. With each team now just two wins away from the title, expect every play to matter and each superstar to step up their game even further. Game 5 is looming, and all eyes are on which side can seize the moment in what’s quickly become one of the most captivating NBA Finals in years.