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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s strong fourth quarter carries Oklahoma City Thunder to win the way to the Indiana Pacers, leveling the best of the seven final series 2-2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of its 35 points in the fourth quarter, when the Oklahoma City Thunder won a grainy 111-104 victory over the Indian Pacers, which in two games in two games equalized the NBA final.
Dissatisfied with much of Indian’s relentless defense, the NBA’s most valuable player (MVP) Gilgeous-Alexander found a way to fight on Friday.
He followed a three -point sweater to secure his first lead since the first half with 2:23, which remained in the competition.
They would no longer notice. Gilgeous-Alexander, who did not enter the free throw line in the first half, added six free shots in the last 44 seconds.
“It’s a dog fight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after another intense, physical struggle between the two teams. “Every time you get on the floor, they make you work at both ends of the floor.”
Gelen Williams scored 27 points, Chet Holmgren added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Alex Karuso fell with 20 points from the thunder booth.
Pascal Siacam scored 20 points to lead Indian, adding eight rebounds, five assists and five stolen.
Tyresse Haliburton scored 18 points, Obi Toppin added 17 of the stand and Pacer, led by 10 at the end of the third quarter.
But Oklahoma City-which this season resigned twice and has not lost the game in the playoffs in the play-on-four defense, determined not to fall in a 3-1 pit.
“We knew it when we woke up this morning-3-1 is much different than 2-2, going back home,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We played with despair until the end of the game, and that’s why we won.”
Gilgeous-Alexander said Thunder had to “keep the same desperate” when they organized game 5 on Monday.
Thunder is looking for its first title since the franchise in 2008 moved to Oklahoma City, winning it all in 1979 as Seattle Supersonics.
Close the first half
Pacers, chasing his first NBA title, first hit another high -speed opening block in front of their energy fans, making four of his first five shots and creating a nine -point lead in the middle of the opening period.
Oklahoma hit a 9-0 race to tie it, but the pacer-with strong defense efforts Gilgeous-Alexander and four stealing from Pascal Siacam-appeared from the first period with a 35-34 lead.
The battle continued in the second, when Oklahoma City led up to six, but could never be passionate, and Haliburton converted a three-point game-driving through traffic to skip and free, his first series-to Indiana would be 60-57 to 57.
Until then, the tension had already faced. Toppin was appreciated by a blatant wound check that sent Alex’s carous gap under the basket.
Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein faced toppin and both received technical fouls.
Oklahoma City Luguentz Dort was later appreciated a quiet foul to pull his hand over the topp.
OKC rallies late
Toppins gave Indiana the first two-digit game lead with Dunk, which showed them 86-76 in the late third.
But the thunder pulled deep, tying it four times in the fourth quarter before the Gilgeous-Alexander came through.
“You are seven at home, you have to get off and find a way, and we couldn’t do it tonight,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “But give them recognition. They continued to attack, continued to attack, and their defense was great.”
Oklahoma City closed the game with a 12-1 point walk, and Gilgeous-Alexander was a driving force.
“He’s unrealistic,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigheault, although Karuso said nothing that Gilgeous-Alexander no longer surprises him.
“I’ve seen it doing it night after night,” said Karuso. “He doesn’t show much emotion on the field, but he is one of the most competitive guys in this league.”
