Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another MVP-worthy performance, scoring 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a gritty 111-104 comeback win over the Indiana Pacers, tying the NBA Finals at two games apiece on Friday.
It was a hard-fought victory for Oklahoma City, which trailed for most of the game as Indiana’s defense kept Gilgeous-Alexander at bay. But when it mattered most, the league’s Most Valuable Player came alive, hitting a three-pointer and a pull-up jumper to give the Thunder their first lead since the first half with 2:23 left on the clock.
Gilgeous-Alexander then sank six free throws in the final 44 seconds to seal the win.
"It's a dog fight," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. "Every time you step on the floor, on both ends of the floor they make you work."
Jalen Williams backed him up with 27 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds. Alex Caruso came off the bench with 20 points, helping Oklahoma City avoid a potentially devastating 3-1 series deficit.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points, adding eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 points, and Obi Toppin added 17 off the bench as Indiana built a 10-point lead late in the third quarter.
But the Thunder, who have not lost back-to-back games in these playoffs, clamped down defensively in the fourth to keep the Finals alive.
"We knew it when we woke up this morning — 3-1 is a lot different than 2-2 going back home," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We played with desperation to the end the game and that's why we won."
Gilgeous-Alexander said the Thunder need to "maintain the same desperation" when they return home for Game 5 on Monday.
The Pacers started strong in front of their home crowd, hitting four of their first five shots to take an early nine-point lead. Oklahoma City responded with a 9-0 run, but Siakam’s defensive pressure and a series of steals helped Indiana close the first quarter ahead, 35-34.
The close contest continued in the second quarter, with Oklahoma City briefly taking control before Haliburton drove through the defense for a layup and a free throw to put Indiana up 60-57 at halftime.
Tensions flared before the break when Toppin was called for a flagrant foul after sending Caruso sprawling under the basket. Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein confronted Toppin, resulting in technical fouls for both players. Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort was later assessed a flagrant foul for a swipe over Toppin’s head.
Toppin gave the Pacers their biggest lead of the night with a dunk that made it 86-76 late in the third quarter, but the Thunder wouldn’t go away.
Oklahoma City tied it three times in the fourth quarter before Gilgeous-Alexander’s late-game heroics sealed the victory.