The 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers has delivered a compelling back-and-forth, but after falling behind early, the heavily favored Thunder appear to have found their winning formula. What was once a series where the Pacers held a 2-1 advantage has quickly shifted, with Oklahoma City winning two straight to seize a commanding 3-2 lead heading into a pivotal Game 6.
Throughout the series, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t mince words when describing the challenge of facing the top-seeded Thunder, calling the task “daunting.” He cited their historic 68-win regular season, the league’s second-highest net rating ever, and the presence of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as reasons for their formidable status. Even as his team led, Carlisle felt the pressure, noting the series felt more extended than just three games. Now, with OKC just one win away from the title, the full weight of that “daunting” challenge has landed squarely on Indiana.
This 3-2 deficit marks uncharted territory for the Pacers this postseason; it’s the first time they’ve lost consecutive games and the first time they’ve trailed in a series. For a team that closed the regular season with an impressive 40-17 record and a +4.9 net rating after a slow start, proving they belonged on this stage, the situation is precarious. The Thunder, however, demonstrate why they were overwhelming favorites. Over the same closing stretch of the season, OKC posted a staggering 49-9 record with a dominant +13 net rating. Losing back-to-back games is exceptionally rare for this squad, happening just twice all season.
There was always a strong possibility that the immensely talented Thunder would eventually “figure out” the Pacers, even if it took longer than anticipated. Games 4 and 5 revealed key adjustments and a return to form that has shifted the series momentum decisively.
Unlocking the Thunder’s Offense
A major turning point has been Oklahoma City’s ability to consistently get their two best players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, going downhill and attacking the paint. In their crucial Game 5 victory, the duo combined for a massive 71 points. The team registered 20 paint touches, their most since an earlier blowout win, fueled largely by SGA and Williams combining for 34 drives – nearly matching Indiana’s entire team total.
Making this seemingly simple strategy work against a scrappy Pacers defense, particularly with Andrew Nembhard often matched up on Gilgeous-Alexander, required specific coaching adjustments from Mark Daigneault.
Strategic Tweaks Pay Dividends
Two key changes stand out:
- Isaiah Hartenstein’s Impact: Reinserting Hartenstein into the starting lineup provided a much-needed boost in screen-setting. Hartenstein, lauded by Daigneault as an elite screen-setter, acts as a brick wall. By setting screens high up the court, often 30 feet from the basket, he frees Gilgeous-Alexander from initial defensive pressure (like Nembhard) and allows SGA to build a full head of steam downhill. This often forces switches or traps, creating crucial 4-on-3 advantages with the defense’s rim protector pulled out of position defending Hartenstein.
- Increased SGA-Williams Two-Man Actions: Daigneault has leaned heavily on actions involving both Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, particularly in crunch time. Whether Williams screens for SGA or vice-versa, these plays consistently generate downhill advantages. Crucially, the defensive attention required to contain both players simultaneously opens up the floor and creates opportunities for teammates.
Beyond Strategy: Turnovers and Shooting
Beyond the offensive scheming, two other factors significantly propelled the Thunder in their recent wins:
Forcing Turnovers: Oklahoma City’s defense ramped up its pressure, forcing a staggering 23 turnovers from the Pacers in Game 5. These giveaways proved incredibly costly, leading directly to 32 Thunder points. As Coach Carlisle pointedly noted, “Nobody is asking about turnovers… That’s the game.”
Finding Their Shooting Touch: After struggling from beyond the arc in Game 4 (a cold 3-of-17), the Thunder rediscovered their shooting form in Game 5, hitting 14 of 32 attempts. This closer-to-regular-season efficiency (where they were top-10 in attempts and accuracy) adds another layer of difficulty for Indiana’s defense and complements their improved downhill attack.
With their stars attacking, strategic adjustments unlocking the offense, and a return to form defensively (forcing turnovers) and offensively (shooting), the Thunder now exude a sense of inevitability. Doing what they do best has allowed their superior talent level to rise above Indiana’s challenge, even potentially exacerbated by Tyrese Haliburton’s health.
What makes the Thunder even more “daunting,” to borrow Carlisle’s term, is their internal mindset. Despite two dominant wins, Daigneault emphasizes room for growth, stating, “It wasn’t a perfect game at all… We’re gonna need a similar approach. We have to take the humility to understand there’s still a lot we can get better at if we want to go on the road and win Game 6.” This combination of dominance and a desire for further improvement is a terrifying prospect for the Pacers facing elimination.
