The Oklahoma City Thunder stormed back from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 111–104 on Friday night, evening the NBA finals at two games apiece.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, including nine straight during the decisive run, to cap another gritty, physical battle in a series that has seen momentum swing wildly in every game. The NBA MVP hit a step-back jumper with 2:23 left to give Oklahoma City their first lead since the second quarter, then sank six free throws in the final 44 seconds to seal the win.
“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 and that’s why we won.”
Schedule
Best-of-seven-games series. All times US eastern time (EDT).
Thu 5 Jun Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
Sun 8 Jun Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107
Wed 11 Jun Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107
Fri 13 Jun Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104
Mon 16 Jun Game 5: Pacers at Thunder, 8.30pm
Thu 19 Jun Game 6: Thunder at Pacers, 8.30pm
Sun 22 Jun Game 7: Pacers at Thunder, 8pm*
*-if necessary
How to watch
In the US, all games will air on ABC. Streaming options include ABC.com or the ABC app (with a participating TV provider login), as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV (via ESPN3 for ABC games). NBA League Pass offers replays, but live finals games are subject to blackout restrictions in the US.
In the UK, the games will be available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. As for streaming, NBA League Pass will provide live and on-demand access to all Finals games without blackout restrictions.
In Australia, the games will broadcast live on ESPN Australia. Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now will stream the games live, while NBA League Pass will offer live and on-demand access without blackout restrictions.
Oklahoma City shot just 3-for-16 from three-point range – a season low – and Gilgeous-Alexander finished without an assist for the first time all year. But the Thunder leaned on defense and rebounding to claw back. They have still yet to lose back-to-back games this postseason.
Jalen Williams added 27 points while Alex Caruso chipped in 20 off the bench. Rookie center Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds, anchoring the defense late as Indiana’s shooting cooled in the final minutes.
The Pacers, backed by a loud home crowd, started fast and led for most of the night. Indiana opened with four makes in their first five shots and built a nine-point lead in the first quarter, eventually taking a 60–57 advantage into half-time after Tyrese Haliburton converted a three-point play.
Tensions flared in the second quarter. Obi Toppin was whistled for a flagrant foul after sending Caruso to the floor under the basket. Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein confronted Toppin, and both players received technicals. Later, Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort was hit with a flagrant for swiping across Toppin’s head.
Toppin, who scored 17 points off the bench, gave Indiana their largest lead of the night (and the first double-digit margin of the series) with a soaring dunk that made it 86–76 late in the third quarter. But the Thunder responded with a 12–3 run to pull within one heading to the final period.
The teams traded body blows in the fourth until Oklahoma City tied the game for a third time. That’s when Gilgeous-Alexander took over, coolly draining tough jumpers and attacking the rim from isolation sets. “It’s a dog fight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Every time you step on the floor, on both ends, they make you work.”
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals. Haliburton finished with 18 points and Toppin chipped in 17 more. But Indiana’s offense faltered down the stretch, generating just six points in the final five minutes.
“You’re up seven at home, you’ve got to dig in and find a way, and we were not able to do it tonight,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “But give them credit. They kept attacking, kept attacking, and their defense was great down the stretch.”
The win sends the series back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday, with the Thunder having reclaimed home-court advantage in what has now become a best-of-three showdown. “We’ve got to maintain the same desperation,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We can’t let up now.”
