Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Indiana Pacers Vooruit Obi Toppin (1) Battle for the Ball During the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals Basketball Series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma City – The ratings are interrupted for this NBA final, as expected. Oklahoma City vs. Indiana is a series in small markets and the figures reflect that, with viewers of about 20% compared to last season and on pace for the worst TV rise since the Pandemic “Bubble” final in 2020.
Do not blame the Thunder and Pacers for that.
Read: NBA Finals: Thunder’s Moments of Adversity has paid off in Game 4
It has been a back and forth over the first four matches and now a best-of-three will decide the NBA title. Game 5 is in Oklahoma City on Monday evening, where the Thunder tries to take their first lead of the series and try to go back to a victory away from a championship.
“I don’t care to be honest,” said Pacers -star Tyrese Haliburton when he was asked what he would say to those who for whatever reason were not tailored to the series. “This is a high -level basketball and I am excited to be part of it.”
Game 1 had a hectic comeback from Indiana and a Haliburton-Sumer. Game 2 saw Oklahoma City doing what it did in most competitions throughout the season: take full control and roll to a victory early. Game 3 in Indiana had the Pacers’ bench feed a victory. And Game 4 saw the MVP MVP things, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 15 points scored in the last five minutes to wear the Thunder to a comeback victory.
Add it and it is Thunder 2, Pacers 2. The Thunder scoring the Pacers with 3.3 points per game; The pacers surpass the Thunder by 1.4%. It is only the third time in the last 15 years that the final that has already had four games through four games, 3.3-point differential or less, shoot within 1.4%. Golden State Boston had it in 2022 and Dallas-Miami had it in 2011.
It all even seems nice, and the appearance does not cheat.
Read: NBA Finals: How Game 4 has gone away from Pacers
“It’s good for you,” said Donder guard Alex Caruso. “Good for me, we would now prepare for a parade.”
Parades in Indianapolis or Oklahoma City will at least have to wait until this weekend. This series seems that in recent years it could have invalidated some of the tired complaints about the game: the Nobody-Play Defense, Too-Much-Isolation, Too-Maryy-3S arguments that have been there.
“I think it is great for the competition from an external perspective,” said Caruso. “It’s great for basketball. I think these two teams are stylistically playing the best versions of basketball at the moment and being aggressive on the defense value causes sales, making things difficult and then offensive, making the ball, passing the ball. … a big brand of basketball.”
And that means it could end up as a great final, or start watching more people or not.
“We appreciate the chance to play this deep in the season,” said Thunder -coach Mark Daigneault. “If you play this deep in the season, your opponent will be really good. They have won 12 games to get to this point, just like we have. You just know it will be an incredible level. There is certainly times where (you say),” Man, this is a high, high level. “”
Read: NBA Finals: Not Batman but Alex Caruso leads Thunder in his own way
This marks the 32nd time that a final has been 2-2 to enter Game 5. The winner of Game 5 finally dominated in 23 of the 31 previous occasions.
“We both have removed two games,” Haliburton said. “Everything can happen here.”
Shai’s climb
Gilgous-Alexander is a maximum of 3,091 points-including the regular season and play-offs this season. That is the 18th most in the NBA history and the reigning MVP could climb several places on that list before this series ends.
He is 72 points shy to match Michael Jordan’s 3,163 in 1991-92 for the 10th most in a season.
“I think above all, it was very nice,” said Gilgous-Alexander about his first final. “It was all I dreamed of growing up. There is no other place in the world that I prefer, and I am grateful to be here. Thankful for the experience, for sure.”
Read: NBA Finals: Thunder Rally Beyond Pacers in Game 4 to bind series
Pacers after losing
The resilience of Indiana is about to be tested again.
The Pacers have not lost back-to-back matches since mid-March and go 10-0 in that period in the game immediately after a defeat.
“We play better with our back to the wall,” said forward Myles Turner. “Advertising is something that goes up the best in you. I think that is really what it is, is just a reaction. … If your back is against the wall, it is usually where we get our best basketball.”
Road Records
Taking into account the regular season, the play-offs and the play-in tournament, there were 597 victories per road teams in the NBA this season.
Read: NBA Finals: Pacers Coach defends referee against criticism
That corresponds to the total of last season and is a shy for the record of 598 in 2021-22.
Walker -update
Without defining him, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle indicated that the season of Spare Jarace Walker is over.
Walker sprained his ankle late in the victory of the series-clinching 6 at New York in the final of the Eastern Conference. He gets off stools but still walks with a weak.
Your subscription cannot be saved. Try it again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“It is very unlikely that he can play in this series. But he is doing better,” said Carlisle. “It would be great if he were available because I think he would help us.”
#NBA #Finals #Pacers #Thunder #Set #Pivotal #Game