by The Oklahoma City Thunder have evened the series 2-2 against the Indiana Pacers after a hard-fought Game 4 win.
What are the key takeaways from this vital OKC win?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s Fourth Quarter Masterclass
After three quarters of underwhelming play from the MVP, OKC’s season looked in jeopardy. Throughout the game, SGA appeared exhausted and often refused to take the ball on multiple occasions. Andrew Nembhard‘s full-court press was the reason for this. But once the fourth quarter came around and their backs were against the wall, SGA delivered.
He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including the closing free throws and two of the final buckets of the game. His two final buckets, a three-pointer and a step-back midrange, were the two biggest shots of his career.
(All clips via shotcreator.com)
There were significant doubts about SGA and the team after Game 3, but they came through when it mattered most in this game.
Double-Big Lineup Can’t Work
Cason Wallace‘s struggles in the finals have led to his return to the bench, allowing Isaiah Hartenstein to rejoin the starting lineup. But after one game of seeing this lineup against the Pacers, it’s clear that it won’t work. Hartenstein is too slow to keep up with the Pacers’ offense, leaving tons of open shooters and easy points.
Alex Caruso starting is the clear solution to this issue. He has averaged 14.8 points and 2.5 steals in these finals, while shooting 54.5% from the field, 50% from the 3-point line, and 83.3% from the free throw line. This has been the best lineup for OKC throughout these playoffs, giving them the best chance of winning the finals.
Chet Holmgren Late-Game Heroics
Chet’s paint dominance in clutch time was unmatched. In the fourth quarter, he had three offensive rebounds and six points. On the defensive end, it was nearly impossible to score in the paint. Despite his limping near the end of the game, he was determined to be the anchor they’ve needed.
Poor Shooting and Passing
OKC was a mere 3/16 from three and just 11 assists for the whole game. For any other team, this guarantees a loss, but OKC’s two-point scoring and ability to get to the free-throw line dragged them to the finish line.
However, this shooting and passing cannot continue. For a team that is full of capable shooters, to shoot 20 fewer threes than their opponent is unacceptable.
If OKC wants to win this series, shooters like Wallace, Chet, SGA, and Jalen Williams need to live up to their expectations.
