Shai Gilgeous-Alexander speaks out after saving Thunder, stunning Pacers

Then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reminded everyone why he’s the MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter — none more important than a step-back jumper with 2:23 remaining — and the Thunder stormed back to beat the Indiana Pacers 111-104 on Friday night, tying the NBA Finals at two games apiece.

Jalen Williams chipped in 27 points, Alex Caruso scored 20, and rookie big man Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds in the kind of gritty, no-frills win that good teams have to have. Especially in June.

The Thunder made just three 3-pointers all night — a season low — and Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t record an assist for the first time all year. Yet somehow, Oklahoma City found enough late.

Pascal Siakam scored 20 for Indiana, while Tyrese Haliburton had 18 and Obi Toppin added 17. Toppin’s baseline dunk late in the third quarter gave the Pacers their first double-digit lead of the series, 86-76. But that turned out to be Indiana’s high-water mark.

The Thunder responded with a 13-3 burst, knotting the game at 89 early in the fourth. From there, it was an exchange of blows. Tied at 91. Again at 95. Again at 97. Until Gilgeous-Alexander, calm as ever, nailed a step-back jumper to give Oklahoma City a 104-103 lead. It was the Thunder’s first lead of the second half, and they never gave it back.

Now the series shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday night, and suddenly the Finals are a best-of-three. The Thunder have reclaimed home-court advantage and, more importantly, kept their championship hopes alive.

History was not on their side. Teams trailing 3-1 in the NBA Finals have lost 37 out of 38 times. Indiana looked ready to make it 38 of 39. But Oklahoma City refused to fold.

Things got heated, too. Toppin was whistled for a Flagrant 1 on Caruso midway through the second quarter. Not long after, Lu Dort returned the favor with a Flagrant 1 of his own on Toppin just before halftime. Indiana took a 60-57 lead into the break.

The Pacers came out swinging from the opening tip, scoring 20 points in the first five minutes — just the second time all season OKC allowed that many so quickly. Indiana led by nine early and threatened to take control of the series altogether.

But when it mattered most, the Thunder stood tall.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s nine straight points in crunch time sealed it, and now, what was teetering on the edge of disaster feels like momentum.

• BOX SCORE | Thunder 111, Pacers 104

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)