How Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sparked Game 4 NBA Finals Win over Pacers With Clutch Rally
How Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sparked Game 4 NBA Finals Win over Pacers With Clutch Rally originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
To his opponent's dismay, the sequences seemed painfully familiar. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander punished his defender with a step-back jumper, a 3-pointer and a few trips to the free-throw line.
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To his team's relief, Gilgeous-Alexander performed his usual job description both to redeem his own struggles and to salvage the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA title hopes.
The Thunder secured a 111-104 road win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, an outcome that appeared in doubt until Gilgeous-Alexander showcased another highlight reel that explains why he won his first regular-season MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the final 4:38 of the game. He showed poise through the Pacers' defensive physicality. He took advantage of the Pacers' frustration with the officiating. He rejuvenated the Thunder's spirits by tying the series at 2-2 and ensuring a Game 6 on Thursday.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends a layup attempt by Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday.Technically, the Thunder didn't face elimination. With potentially facing a 3-1 series deficit, though, Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder maintain their composure enough to ensure Indiana could not secure an NBA title in Game 5 on Monday.
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'I just tried to be aggressive. I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight,' Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. 'I didn't want to go out not swinging. I didn't want to go out not doing everything I could do in my power, in my control to try to win the game. The guys deserve that as much from me. The coaching staff deserves that much from me. I just tried to be aggressive, but also let the game come to me, not try to force anything too crazy. I guess it paid off.'
Oklahoma City has become familiar with Gilgeous-Alexander's heroics all season. He led the NBA in scoring. He became the primary reason the Thunder finished with the NBA's best record (68-14). He remains the main factor for the Thunder appearing in their first NBA Finals since 2012.
Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander's latest performance took on a different context. Through the first three games, both the Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander surprisingly looked relatively vulnerable. The Pacers have shown they deserve to be in their first Finals in 25 years because of Tyrese Haliburton's rising stardom, a strong supporting cast and a proven head coach in Rick Carlisle. Gilgeous-Alexander has finally met a defensive nemesis in Andrew Nembhard, whose connection with the Canadian national team has resulted in a more competitive and physical matchup than normally expected.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots the ball as Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard defends during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13.Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
'There's a variety of ways to attack any defense, any coverage,' Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. 'I think the trick is keeping them off balance and sprinkling a good amount of everything in there, trying not to be predictable, especially when you play them six, seven times in a row. I'm trying to keep them off balance as best as possible.'
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Gilgeous-Alexander eventually fulfilled that role. Therefore, his key shots carried more significance.
When Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul by performing a pump fake on Nembhard and made two foul shots to cut Indiana's lead to 101-99 with 3:34 left, he went to the free-throw line for only the second time in the game. When Gilgeous-Alexander made a 3 to reduce the Pacers' cushion to one point with 2:58 left, he made his first outside shot after missing his first three attempts. When Gilgeous-Alexander hit a baseline jumper that gave the Thunder a 104-103 edge with 2:23 remaining, he gave OKC its first lead since 1:53 left in the second quarter.
'It's unbelievable,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters. 'He really didn't have it going a lot of the night. He was laboring. We had a hard time shaking him free. For him to be able to flip the switch like that and get the rhythm he got just speaks to how great of a player he is.'
The Pacers and their fans didn't react kindly to the Thunder's late-game comeback. Nembhard contested that Gilgeous-Alexander barely drew any contact on his pump fake before his first trip to the free-throw line. Before making his baseline jumper, Gilgeous-Alexander pushed off on Nembhard before stepping back. Thunder forward Lu Dort, who has become one of the NBA's best defenders for how he absorbs screens and studies opposing team's best players, got away with shoving Haliburton both during a free-throw in the first half and during a chase for a loose ball in the fourth.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rises to dunk the ball as Pacers guard Ben Sheppard looks on during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13.Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
All fair points, but coaches instruct their teams to play well enough to overcome a few calls. Though the Thunder received a few favorable whistles, Gilgeous-Alexander's play alone played a major factor.
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Though Gilgeous-Alexander recorded zero assists, he positively impacted his teammates in various ways. His two-man game with Jalen Williams partly led to his scoring 27 points. When Thunder center Chet Holmgren took a rough fall, Gilgeous-Alexander pleaded for him to get up and told him that 'we need you.' When Gilgeous-Alexander drew double teams, Thunder guard Alex Caruso (20 points) often took advantage of the distracted defenses.
'You wouldn't know if it was a preseason game or it's Game 4 of the NBA Finals down 2-1 with him. That's why we have such a good mentality as a group,' Caruso told reporters. 'That's why we are able to find success in adversity. No matter what's going on, you look at him and he's the same. Underneath that stoic personality or look on the court is a deep, deep-rooted competitiveness. That is sprinkled throughout the whole team.'
All of which sets up Gilgeous-Alexander with an opportunity to help the Thunder reclaim the series lead and home-court advantage and in Game 5.
'I relish those moments, love the moments, good or bad,' Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. 'When I was a kid shooting in my driveway, I'd count down the clock for those moments. Now I get to live it. It's a blessing, it's fun, and I relish it.'
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Mark Medina is an NBA contributor to Athlon Sports. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Breaks Eye-Opening Streak in NBA Finals Game 4
Related: Charles Barkley Makes Prediction on Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals
Related: OKC Thunder Even Up Series After Indiana Pacers Collapse
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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