The Moment OKC Seized Control: Inside the Thunder’s Game 4 Statement Win
There’s a certain weight to NBA Finals fourth quarters that separates the pretenders from the contenders. For three and a half games, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers had traded haymakers in what was shaping up to be an all-time classic series. Then, with their backs against the wall and staring down the barrel of a 3-1 deficit, the Thunder delivered a championship-caliber closing statement that might have permanently altered this series’ trajectory.
OKC’s 111-104 victory over Indiana in Game 4 wasn’t just about evening the series at 2-2. It was about identity, resilience, and the Thunder’s young guns growing up right before our eyes on the biggest stage imaginable.
The Fourth Quarter Transformation
Down by 10 points with the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd in full throat, OKC did something they hadn’t managed to do all series—they dominated a fourth quarter. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 31-17 in the final frame, flipping a game that seemed destined for Indiana’s win column.
“We’ve been in these situations before,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said post-game. “Our guys didn’t blink. They just kept competing possession after possession.”
The numbers tell the story: a +14 fourth quarter advantage that completely flipped the momentum. For the first time in the series, the Thunder looked like the team that methodically dismantled the Western Conference during their playoff run.
SGA’s Kobe-esque Closing Performance
Great players have great moments, but truly special players deliver when everything is on the line. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on his superhero cape when his team needed him most, scoring 15 of his game-high 35 points in the final 4:38 of the game.
It wasn’t just that SGA scored—it was how he scored. The mid-range pull-ups. The crafty finishes through contact. The poise under pressure. This was a performance that had shades of Kobe Bryant written all over it.
“In those moments, I’m just trying to make the right play,” SGA said, trademark humility intact despite his heroics. “Sometimes that means scoring, sometimes it means creating for others.”
What makes SGA’s closing kick even more impressive is that he struggled with his shot for much of the first three quarters. Lesser players would have disappeared. SGA simply recalibrated and delivered when it mattered most—the mark of a true superstar.
Jalen Williams: The X-Factor Finding His Moment
While SGA will rightfully grab headlines, Jalen Williams played perhaps the most complete game of any Thunder player. His 27 points kept OKC afloat when their offense was sputtering early, scoring 10 of the Thunder’s first 21 points and 12 in the opening quarter alone.
Williams has been consistently excellent throughout the playoffs, now registering his 10th game with 20+ points this postseason. His consistency throughout the Finals (averaging 22.3 points per game) has been crucial for a Thunder team that has sometimes struggled to find secondary scoring.
“J-Dub was incredible tonight,” Daigneault said. “When SGA was seeing extra defenders, Jalen kept us going offensively. That’s what makes this team special—we have multiple guys who can step up.”
Williams’ ability to attack mismatches, get to the free-throw line, and finish through contact has become a perfect complement to SGA’s brilliance. He’s gone from intriguing young talent to legitimate star in these playoffs, and Game 4 might have been his coming-out party on the national stage.
The Holmgren Factor: Size Matters
Let’s talk about Chet Holmgren for a minute. The 7-foot unicorn has taken his lumps in this series, with Indiana’s physical play seemingly throwing him off his game at times. But in Game 4, Holmgren responded with a performance that showcased why he’s so essential to OKC’s championship aspirations.
His stat line—14 points, 15 rebounds—doesn’t fully capture his impact. The Thunder outscored the Pacers by 14 points with Holmgren on the floor, a team-high mark that speaks to his two-way value. His ability to protect the rim while still switching out on Indiana’s guards proved crucial in slowing down the Pacers’ previously unstoppable offense.
“Chet gives us a vertical presence that changes everything about our defense,” Daigneault explained. “When he’s engaged like he was tonight, we can guard in ways most teams just can’t.”
What was particularly impressive was Holmgren’s response to the physicality. Rather than shying away, he embraced the contact, battling for every rebound and contesting everything at the rim. That’s the growth we’re watching in real-time from this Thunder core.
Unsung Hero: The Caruso Effect
Alex Caruso isn’t supposed to be dropping 20 points in NBA Finals games. He’s built his reputation on defense, hustle plays, and basketball IQ. But in Game 4, Caruso reminded everyone that championship teams need unexpected contributors to rise to the occasion.
His 20 points and five steals off the bench provided both offensive punch and defensive disruption when OKC desperately needed both. Caruso’s ability to knock down open threes (4-of-7 from deep) punished Indiana’s defensive rotations and created spacing that allowed SGA and Williams room to operate.
“AC is the ultimate winning player,” Williams said. “Nothing he does surprises me anymore. He just makes winning plays, and tonight he made a ton of them.”
Caruso’s fingerprints were all over the decisive fourth quarter, whether it was timely deflections, perfectly timed cuts, or the confidence to take and make big shots. When we look back at this series, his Game 4 performance might be remembered as a pivotal turning point.
Indiana’s Fourth Quarter Collapse
The flip side of OKC’s comeback is Indiana’s meltdown. The Pacers’ offensive execution, which had been surgical through the first three games, suddenly looked disjointed and tentative in the final frame.
Tyrese Haliburton, who has been spectacular this postseason, missed several open looks down the stretch and seemed hesitant to attack when OKC ramped up their defensive pressure. The Pacers managed just 17 points in the fourth quarter after averaging nearly 30 points per quarter through the first three games of the series.
“We just didn’t execute when it mattered most,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle admitted. “OKC raised their level, and we didn’t match it.”
The concerning part for Indiana is that this wasn’t just about missed shots—it was about fundamental breakdowns in their offensive principles. The ball movement stagnated, the cutting diminished, and the free-flowing attack that had been their calling card suddenly looked rigid and predictable.
Strategy Shift: OKC’s Defensive Adjustments
If you’re looking for the tactical component of OKC’s comeback, look no further than their defensive game plan. After watching Indiana carve them up for three games with dribble penetration and kick-out passes, the Thunder made a critical adjustment.
They started switching nearly everything on the perimeter, taking away the Pacers’ advantage in the pick-and-roll game. More importantly, they committed to staying home on Indiana’s shooters rather than over-helping, essentially challenging the Pacers’ ball-handlers to score one-on-one.
“We wanted to make them beat us in isolation rather than giving up open threes,” Daigneault explained. “Our guys executed the game plan perfectly in that fourth quarter.”
The numbers tell the story: Indiana, which had been lighting it up from beyond the arc all series, went just 2-for-11 from three-point range in the fourth quarter. The Thunder essentially bet that Indiana’s creators couldn’t consistently win one-on-one battles—and they were right.
Game 5 Implications: Series Momentum Shift?
So where does this leave us heading into a pivotal Game 5? The Thunder have reclaimed home-court advantage and, perhaps more importantly, restored their confidence. The ghosts of their previous fourth-quarter struggles have been exorcised.
For Indiana, there’s reason for concern. Throughout these playoffs, they’ve struggled to maintain their offensive efficiency when teams have successfully taken away their first and second options. The Pacers now face the challenge of solving OKC’s adjusted defensive approach while fighting against the psychological impact of their Game 4 collapse.
History tells us that when an NBA Finals is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner goes on to win the series approximately 82% of the time. Wednesday night’s game in Oklahoma City isn’t technically an elimination game, but it’s about as close as you can get.
The Thunder’s young core has now shown they can deliver under Finals pressure. SGA has his signature playoff moment. Jalen Williams has emerged as a legitimate star. Chet Holmgren has found his footing against Indiana’s physicality.
If Games 1-3 were about Indiana imposing their will, Game 4 was OKC’s declaration that they’ve figured something out. The question now is whether the Pacers can counter-adjust or if the Thunder have finally decoded the formula for containing Indiana’s high-octane attack.
One thing’s certain—we’re in for a thrilling conclusion to what’s shaping up to be a classic NBA Finals. The countdown to Game 5 has begun.