Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
The Pacers are suddenly two wins away from their maiden NBA championship following their impressive 116-107 home victory against the Thunder in Game 3 last Wednesday. These two teams will continue to play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse tomorrow, where the hosts aim for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series before returning to Paycom Center next week.
Oklahoma City still have a realistic shot of making a comeback, but they cannot drop the ball in Game 4. On the other hand, Indiana’s confidence has skyrocketed, and they will continue to embrace their underdog label, as they have done throughout this postseason.
Will the Thunder tie the series to two games apiece, or will the Pacers go one step closer to the Larry O’Brien trophy? Either way, SBOTOP basketball fans are in for another fun night of hoops, so continue reading below for the preview of Game 4.
Talking Points
Pacers getting valuable bench production
The Pacers’ bench was a huge catalyst in their Game 3 last Wednesday, as Bennedict Mathurin and TJ McConnell came to play. Mathurin finished as the team’s top scorer with 27 points and four rebounds on 9-for-13 shooting from the field, and McConnell added 10 points, five assists, and five steals on 3-for-8 shooting from the field.
After a slow start, Mathurin and McConnell changed the complexion of the game with their energy. The Thunder couldn’t stop Mathurin from scoring, while McConnell’s heady play and pesky defense gave the Pacers a few more productive possessions that contributed to the win. Before Game 3, Mathurin and McConnell had not played a huge role in the first two Finals games.
Indiana also benefited from the solid performances of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Haliburton posted 22 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and four three-pointers on 9-for-17 shooting. Siakam added 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals on 8-for-14 shooting. Myles Turner also deserves a huge shoutout for establishing himself on the defensive end, blocking five shots.
Holmgren is the Thunder’s x-factor
Chet Holmgren started the game hot with 13 points in the first period, but he only scored seven points since. The 23-year-old center struggled when Myles Turner guarded him, going 1-for-5 from the floor and having his shot blocked three times, though he finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds on 6-for-15 shooting from the field. With Isaiah Hartenstein not playing up to par, the Thunder need Holmgren to play better to win the frontcourt battle.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had a rare off-night. The reigning MVP had 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks on 9-for-20 shooting. However, he disappeared when Oklahoma City needed him the most in the final period, notching only three points on 1-for-3 shooting, as they were outscored 32-18.
History
The Thunder cannot afford to go down 3-1 against the Pacers tomorrow, as only one team has successfully come back from such a deficit. That team was the 2016 Cavaliers, who won twice on the road and once at home following some historic performances from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Overall, the last team to come back from such a deficit was the 2020 Nuggets against the Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals in the Disney Bubble.
Bennedict Mathurin became the third bench player in NBA Finals history to score at least 25 points in a Finals game this century, joining Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili. Meanwhile, teammate TJ McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history to record at least five assists and five steals in a Finals game.
What are the odds?
Despite having a 2-1 series lead, the NBA 2025 odds expect the Pacers to lose Game 4 tomorrow, priced at 2.85 to win in the money line, whereas the Thunder are 1.42 favorites. The visitors are also backed in the Asian Handicap market with -7.00 at 2.17 being the highest offer.
Fans can expect their fair share of NBA 2025 highlights, and Game 4 will likely go down to the wire again, making alternatives like Under 224.50 at 2.11, Under 225.00 at 2.05, Under 225.50 at 1.99, and Under 226.00 at 1.94 viable. However, if it is a blowout game for either side, then you can bet on the Overs.
For the first time in this series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t breach the 30-point threshold, while Tyrese Haliburton flirted with a triple-double in Game 3. Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to play better in Game 4, so adding Over 34.50 (points) at 2.08 to your parlay could be tempting. Haliburton should continue to facilitate for Indiana, making Over 8.50 (assists) at 1.82 also viable.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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