The Indiana Pacers are facing a pivotal moment in the 2025 NBA Finals. After suffering a frustrating Game 4 loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, letting a late fourth-quarter lead slip away, the series is now tied 2-2 as it heads back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. Despite the disappointment, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton voiced confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back.
“As a team, you have to be ready to respond,” Haliburton stated following the 111-104 defeat. “You’ve just got to be able to respond when your back is against the wall, and that’s where we are right now.”
Haliburton acknowledged the sting of the loss but emphasized his continued belief in the group. “That’s a frustrating loss, but as a group, I still have a lot of confidence in ourselves,” he added. “We’ve got to be ready to go and fight for 48 minutes. It’s going to be a challenge, but this group has been resilient all year. I wouldn’t want to go to war with any other group.”
Breaking Down the Game 4 Collapse
The Pacers held a significant advantage heading into the final frame, leading by seven points (87-80) and even holding a 103-99 lead with just over three minutes remaining. However, the Thunder turned up their defensive intensity dramatically, holding Indiana to just one point – a free throw from Bennedict Mathurin – for the remainder of the game.
Several factors contributed to the fourth-quarter struggles, where the Pacers were outscored 31-17. According to USA Today reporting, key differences in the “margins” ultimately proved decisive:
Rebounding Disparity: The Thunder significantly outrebounded the Pacers 43-33.
Second-Chance Points: Oklahoma City capitalized on their offensive boards, scoring 23 second-chance points. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle pinpointed the “inability to effectively rebound” as a major hurdle in Game 4.
- Free Throw Advantage: The Thunder attempted five more free throws and crucially made nine more (27 makes on 31 attempts vs. Pacers’ 18 makes on 26 attempts).
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Beyond these statistical differences, Carlisle noted the Pacers’ offense became too stagnant against the increased pressure. “An inability to come up with rebounds, an inability to get key stops was a part of it, and then we just got too stagnant,” he said. “The ball was not being advanced quickly enough. We weren’t creating problems… But you’ve got to give Oklahoma credit. They made it very difficult.”
Looking Ahead to Game 5 in Oklahoma City
With the series now a best-of-three, the focus immediately shifts to Monday night’s Game 5 in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder boast a strong home record. Winning on the road presents a significant challenge, one Haliburton is anticipating.
“We’ve got to be ready to go Game 5, going into a hostile environment,” Haliburton commented. “We have to be ready to play. For us to win, we’re going to have to win one down there.”
The Pacers have proven capable of winning on the road in hostile playoff environments this year. In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they “stole” home-court advantage from the Cleveland Cavaliers by winning both Games 1 and 2 on the road, with Haliburton delivering clutch performances, including a game-winning shot in Game 2. Their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks also saw dramatic moments, including a historic comeback win in overtime led by Haliburton’s late-game heroics, demonstrating the team’s “iron will” praised by Carlisle earlier in the playoffs.
The Nature of the NBA Finals Challenge
Rick Carlisle has emphasized throughout the Finals that this would be a demanding, drawn-out series – describing it as “long,” “arduous,” and “the ultimate effort, endeavor.” He reiterated this perspective after Game 4, acknowledging the “extreme highs and extreme lows” inherent in such a high-stakes challenge.
“It’s really hard, and it’s supposed to be hard,” Carlisle stated. “This is where we’re going to have to dig in and circle the wagons and come back stronger on Monday.”
Despite the missed opportunity in Game 4, the Pacers remain confident in their ability to compete. They showcased their offensive depth earlier in the game, with five players reaching double figures and three others scoring 8 points. Haliburton contributed 18 points and 7 assists, while Pascal Siakam added 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals.
Game 5 represents a chance to regroup and apply lessons learned from the difficult fourth quarter. The Pacers have a couple of days to analyze film and identify areas for improvement before stepping into what will undoubtedly be a charged atmosphere in Oklahoma City. The series is now a test of will, and as Haliburton stated, they are ready to “dig in.”
