Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s sturdy fourth quarter carries Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to essential highway win over Indiana Pacers, levelling the best-of-seven finals collection at 2-2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 factors within the fourth quarter because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder rallied for a gritty 111-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers that leveled the NBA Finals at two video games apiece.
Pissed off for a lot of the sport by Indiana’s relentless protection, NBA Most Useful Participant (MVP) Gilgeous-Alexander discovered a solution to battle by way of on Friday.
He adopted a 3-pointer with a pull-up jumper to present the Thunder their first lead for the reason that first half with 2:23 remaining within the contest.
They wouldn’t path once more. Gilgeous-Alexander, who didn’t get to the free-throw line within the first half, added six free-throws within the last 44 seconds.
“It’s a canine battle,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned after one other intense, bodily battle between the 2 groups. “Each time you step on the ground, on each ends of the ground they make you’re employed.”
Jalen Williams scored 27 factors, Chet Holmgren added 14 factors and 15 rebounds and Alex Caruso chipped in with 20 factors off the bench for the Thunder.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 factors to guide Indiana, including eight rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 factors, Obi Toppin added 17 off the bench and the Pacers led by 10 late within the third quarter.
However Oklahoma Metropolis – who dropped back-to-back video games simply twice this season and haven’t misplaced consecutive video games within the playoffs – clamped down defensively within the fourth, decided to not fall in a 3-1 gap.
“We knew it once we awoke this morning – 3-1 is so much totally different than 2-2 going again dwelling,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “We performed with desperation to the tip the sport and that’s why we gained.”
Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned the Thunder should “preserve the identical desperation” once they host Sport 5 on Monday.
The Thunder are looking for their first title for the reason that franchise relocated to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008, having gained all of it in 1979 because the Seattle SuperSonics.
Shut first half
The Pacers, chasing their first NBA title, struck first in one other fast-paced opening quarter in entrance of their energized followers, making 4 of their first 5 pictures and constructing a nine-point lead halfway by way of the opening interval.
Oklahoma hit again, placing collectively a 9-0 run to tie it, however the Pacers – with a powerful defensive effort on Gilgeous-Alexander and 4 steals from Pascal Siakam – emerged from the primary interval with a 35-34 lead.
The back-and-forth battle continued within the second, when Oklahoma Metropolis led by as many as six however may by no means draw back and Haliburton transformed a three-point play – driving by way of site visitors for a layup and making the free throw, his first of the collection – to place Indiana up 60-57 at halftime.
By then, tensions had already ratcheted up. Toppin was assessed a flagrant foul for a verify that despatched Alex Caruso sprawling beneath the basket.
Thunder middle Isaiah Hartenstein confronted Toppin and each acquired technical fouls.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s Luguentz Dort was later assessed a flagrant foul for swiping an arm over Toppin’s head.
OKC rallies late
Toppin gave Indiana the primary double-digit lead of the sport with a dunk that put them up 86-76 late within the third.
However the Thunder dug deep, tying it up 4 instances within the fourth quarter earlier than Gilgeous-Alexander got here by way of.
“You’re up seven at dwelling you’ve acquired to dig in and discover a method and we weren’t in a position to do it tonight,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “However give them credit score. They stored attacking, stored attacking, and their protection was nice down the stretch.”
Oklahoma Metropolis closed the sport on a 12-1 scoring run, and Gilgeous-Alexander was the driving drive.
“He’s unreal,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned, though Caruso mentioned nothing Gilgeous-Alexander does surprises him anymore.
“I’ve seen him do it night time after night time,” Caruso mentioned. “He doesn’t present loads of emotion on the court docket, however he’s one of the aggressive guys on this league.”
