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Thunder vs Pacers: Five Takeaways from NBA Finals Game 4

If there was one thing that was expected in Game 4 of the Thunder vs Pacers clash, it was for the intensity to rise. With bigger stakes and more pressure on both teams, the 2025 NBA Finals have continued to impress. Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers continue to grind hard. After all, it is now a best-of-three once more. With backs against the wall, and a 3-1 deficit looming, the Thunder pulled a shocker of their own. This was expected to be a wild finish, and they are certainly giving fans a series to remember.

Jun 13, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) collide under the basket during the third quarter of game four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Thunder vs Pacers: Five Takeaways from NBA Finals Game 4

With the series returning to Oklahoma City, it is time to see how both teams fared in what has been a roller coaster ride of a series in Game 4.

1. Ice Cold Thunder From Deep

Nothing has been easy for OKC in this series. Everything has been a struggle for the team every step of the way. In Game 4, the struggle was shooting the ball from three. That was also the same problem they had when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 West Semis. The Thunder made 11, 14, and 10 threes in the first three games, respectively. But despite making their most threes in that Game 2 win, the most efficient shooting from deep for OKC came in Game 3, which ended up in a loss.

Making threes is as important as controlling the paint – something that Oklahoma City has done well in the series. However, when they had their backs against the wall, the Thunder just could not afford to buy the threes they needed. In fact, they only had one three at the half, and their second three went swishing late in the third quarter. The third three came in the clutch – from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 2:56 to play in the fourth.

By the end of the game, the Thunder ended up making just three shots from deep. Indiana, on the other hand, was quite disappointing as well 11-36 shooting from beyond the arc. Talk about some of the biggest fights where a team struggling to shoot from beyond the arc eventually manages to deliver. That’s the intensity of the Thunder vs Pacers series for you.

2. Pacers’ Elite Defense Meets OKC’s Timely Clutch Defense


Say what you want to say about Oklahoma City’s highly-praised defense for most of the 2024-25 season. The NBA Finals has somewhat started exploiting the Thunder’s defense – as if the Pacers had their number. Pascal Siakam had four steals and a block by halftime, and the third quarter saw OKC struggling to rotate the ball. The passing lanes were clogged, and the Thunder could not find the open man to score big buckets to trim the Indiana lead.

Let’s not forget that the Pacers was copying Oklahoma City’s defensive playbook in that Game 3 win. They applied it well in Game 4 too. But what was seen for most of the game is how they are wearing each other out. The pressure defense is cooking up both sides, but Indiana is getting the most of it. In fact, the Pacers have been getting less turnovers – and OKC is committing more than them.

This story of flipping the script in the Thunder vs Pacers series continues to be a shocker. However, the Thunder turned on its defensive engines WHEN IT MATTERED MOST. Chet Holmgren was hunted by the Indiana offense in the clutch moments of the game – and they went 0-4 in that stretch. Defense wins championships, and OKC defended well in the right time.

3. Thunder Meeting the Moment

It does seem like every big game in the 2025 NBA Finals has been about how amazing these two teams have been in battling each other. While OKC was battling hard in saving their season, the team also scored the most points in a whole season, passing the mark of 12,161 scored by the Golden State Warriors in the 2018-19 season. The Warriors needed 104 games in completing that feat. Oklahoma City, on the other hand, was able to clinch the feat in less than two games.

But that’s just scratching the surface. Both teams were 3-0 in Game 4s in this year’s playoffs, until OKC won to improve to 4-0. SGA has also moved to a promising record of 7-0 with the Thunder in all Game 4s of his career. He is also the only player to ever tally 130+ points and 10+ steals in their first four NBA Finals games.

We’ll get back to the 2025 MVP a little later.

The Thunder wasn’t supposed to win this game. Indiana outscored them in bench points at 36-27, and has only three shots from deep to the Pacers’ 11 makes. The fact that they were down seven heading into the fourth says a lot about how this team is able to shatter historic odds and still win – much like how the Pacers have done for most of the playoffs.

4. Holmgren Shines in the Battle of Centers

Before we dive deep into Holmgren’s game, let’s not forget that Isaiah Hartenstein‘s return to the starting lineup was the turning point for OKC. He was able to set the screens they needed, and they got back into their main identity thanks to that. After all, Hartenstein stands with the best record by a player as a starter with 50+ games played this season, with a record of 45-8.

Speaking of centers, a lot of criticism in the Game 3 loss went Holmgren’s way, especially his lack of presence in the late game. This time, the Thunder big man made both of his shots the fourth quarter, and he finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Holmgren was one of two players leading Oklahoma City in the +/- department, at +14 – the same as Alex Caruso.

Myles Turner went 3-for-10 in the game, while Holmgren finished at 44.4% shooting. The Indiana big man ended up with just 12 points, was only able to grab two rebounds, and had five fouls. Talk about Holmgren – a player who’s missed a huge chunk of games in his career – making adjustments in the biggest stage of the game to save the Thunder season.

5. Where Have You Been, SGA?

Caruso kept the engines roaring for OKC with his big game. He finished with 20 points and five big steals to keep his team afloat. Jalen Williams was superb with 27 points and made all 11 of his foul shots. But when it mattered most, it was SGA who saved the Thunder from going down 3-1 in the NBA Finals.


The 2024-25 MVP dropped 15 of his 35 points in the fourth – all in the last five minutes of Game 4. That is the most by any player in that stretch since 1971. In just one game, SGA is suddenly leading the NBA Finals in clutch points.

Of course, the narrative would be that he scored eight of those from the charity stripe. But those were clear fouls, and sinking all of them was crucial to win the game for the Thunder. That is still ethical hoops – with the pure and honest intent to win the game. The best thing you can do for the team is to knock down baskets, and Shai did just that with poise. Now the series is tied heading back to OKC.

What to Expect in Game 5?

Teams with a 3-2 series lead have gone to win 81.6% of the time in the NBA Finals. That is a 40-9 record. At this point, whoever wins Game 5, will definitely have their sights on the Larry O’Brien Trophy closer than the losing team.

For now, OKC has responded and is regaining its identity back. Now it is time for them to prepare their best level of play, and get back to the roaring crowd of the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. After all, Game 5 will be the turning point of the series. Both teams are racing to be the first to two wins, which means this Thunder vs Pacers showdown is going down for real.

Photo credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

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