MANILA, Philippines – The Oklahoma City Thunder battled back in Game 4 to stun the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, June 14, 2025 (Manila time), tying the NBA Finals at 2–2. The clutch road win shifts the momentum back to OKC as the series heads home for a pivotal Game 5.
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| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivers in the clutch, lifting the Thunder to a Game 4 win and tying the series at 2–2. Photo Credit: NBA |
Unlike the previous games where the Pacers often played from behind, the home team came out firing from the opening tip, led by Tyrese Haliburton.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, known for his late-game bursts, erupted early from beyond the arc to give Indiana an early lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It was a tense ninth minute of the first quarter for OKC as Chet Holmgren tweaked his ankle while colliding with Pascal Siakam, but the lanky center simply shrugged it off and played on.
The Pacers appeared to have cracked the code against the Thunder, with balanced offensive contributions and solid defense focused on containing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With Gilgeous-Alexander struggling to find his rhythm, it was Alex Caruso and Jaylen Williams who stepped up to carry the load for OKC.
The Thunder made a mini run to close the gap, and it paid off as they trimmed the deficit to just one, 35–34, by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter favored OKC as they took the lead and the reigning MVP, SGA, began to regain his scoring confidence.
Game 4 turned into a classic seesaw battle, as both squads went back and forth, trading basket after basket and exchanging the lead several times throughout the quarter.
A brief scuffle broke out after Obi Toppin’s hard foul on Alex Caruso, prompting Isaiah Hartenstein to confront him and spark a quick shoving match. Toppin was assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 after the review.
The second quarter turned physical, with both teams racking up fouls and sending players to the line. OKC capitalized on the free throws, gaining a slight edge in the scoring battle.
The Pacers’ offense came alive late in the second quarter, allowing them to reclaim the lead. Haliburton sparked the scoring surge as Indiana headed into halftime up 60-57.
The Pacers maintained their composure in the penultimate quarter as the Thunder tried to claw their way back into the game.
Indiana relied on steady ball movement and timely baskets from Siakam and Haliburton to stay ahead.
OKC made multiple mini-runs behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren, but every push was met with a Pacers answer.
Despite the Thunder’s improved shooting and defensive energy, the Pacers managed to maintain a double-digit lead.
Indiana’s bread and butter in the third period was their tightened defense and strong control of the boards, which kept them ahead of OKC 87–80 heading into the final quarter.
Oklahoma gradually closed the gap as the fourth quarter unfolded, forcing Indiana into several turnovers and turning them into much-needed points.
OKC did well to stay within striking distance, even managing to tie the game midway through the fourth. However, their momentum stalled after entering the penalty early, putting a halt to their comeback hopes.
In the closing minutes, the superstars from both sides put on a scoring clinic, electrifying the crowd and keeping the intensity at its peak.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sank a tough baseline fadeaway that swung the momentum to OKC and gave them the lead with just two minutes left on the clock.
After trailing by double digits, OKC stormed back to conquer Indianapolis 111–104, tying the series at 2–2.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express