Five takeaways from Game 4 of the NBA Finals: MVP moment for the MVP

2. OKC had no answer for Indiana's ball movement until late

The Pacers' ball movement was exquisite for much of the night. Rarely did the ball stick with any one player, leading to wide-open threes. Indiana made four of its first five triples to begin the game, and all four were assisted. Three came off drive-and-kicks.

Indiana finished with 21 assists to the Thunder's 10, but at the end of the game, the OKC defense woke up. Indiana had just one assist in the fourth, while Pascal Siakam did not attempt a field goal for the final 10:18. 

3. Role players continue to make a massive difference

The stars have had their moments in the series, but various role players have stolen the show in each game. In Game 4, Alex Caruso, Andrew Nembhard and Obi Toppin had their turn in the spotlight.

While SGA closed out the game and Jalen Williams was solid throughout, the Thunder would not be winners if it weren't for Caruso. He played 30 minutes off the bench scoring 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while adding five steals. He had a plus-minus of +14.

4. Let's get physical

The physicality and intensity was ratcheted up in Game 4. Late in the second quarter, Obi Toppin was called for a flagrant foul after a hard foul on Caruso. Isaiah Hartenstein took exception, and words were exchanged with technicals assessed to Hartenstein and Toppin.

Moments later, Jalen Williams was sent to the deck hard, and Toppin was later hacked across the arm and whacked across the head on a drive to the hoop. It gave the feeling of old-time playoff basketball.

Early in the third, Caruso drew the ire of Siakam, and more words were exchanged. Expect the physicality to continue as the series moves on.

5. The Pacers missed opportunities late

Indiana had too many missed opportunities in the second half. It began late in the third when Toppin missed a pair of free throws that could have put the Pacers up 12 with 1:44 remaining in the quarter. 

Instead, OKC trimmed it to seven by the end of the quarter. Late in the fourth, Bennedict Mathurin missed three straight free throws, and Indiana gifted OKC two free throws with a pair of off-ball fouls on inbound plays. 

Combine those moments with Indiana's inability to score a field goal in the final 3:20, and it was the recipe for a collapse.