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Five takeaways from Game 4 of the NBA Finals: MVP moment for the MVP
The Indiana Pacers were 12 minutes away from taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, but the Oklahoma City Thunder moved to 6-0 in the playoffs after a loss, winning 111-104 to even the series 2-2. As the series heads back to OKC, here are five takeaways from Game 4.
1. The Pacers did their finest work yet on SGA...until the very end
It was almost time to send out a search party for the league MVP. Andrew Nembhard and the Indiana Pacers did their best job yet defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA had a quiet 12 points in the first half and did not attempt a free throw until the 6:09 mark of the third quarter.
Nembhard was SGA's shadow for 94 feet and kept the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander's hands more than the Thunder would like early on. He routinely played off the ball and went without an assist for the first time since 2020, per StatMuse.
But when OKC needed him most, the MVP rose to the occasion. SGA scored 23 points in the second half, including 15 in the final 4:38 of the game to seal the win. He finished 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. After a disappointing fourth quarter in Game 3 and a quiet first half to open Game 4, it was SGA's MVP moment that OKC sorely needed.
SGA COMES UP HUGE IN GAME 4 ⚡️
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2025
35 points.
15 in the 4th.
3 steals.
THE #KiaMVP DELIVERS IN A MASSIVE MOMENT FOR OKC! pic.twitter.com/uPjnixOSID
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.
Nembhard SPLASH.
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2025
Make that 4 Pacers threes in the opening minutes
OKC (1-2) IND on ABC pic.twitter.com/me8mBO5AJ5
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.
CARUSO STEAL.
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2025
CARUSO SCORE.
Thunder turning defense into offense in G4 pic.twitter.com/sbEfEB7vVJ
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.
Obi Toppin was charged with a Flagrant 1 foul on this play.
— ESPN (@espn) June 14, 2025
Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein received double technicals after review. pic.twitter.com/gxWlv4Xioo
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.
More must-reads:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander speaks out after saving Thunder, stunning Pacers
- NBA fans react to Thunder storming back to tie NBA Finals vs. Pacers
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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