The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a stunning comeback in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers 111-104 and leveling the series at 2-2. Trailing by seven at the start of the fourth quarter, the Thunder surged ahead behind a heroic performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 11 points in the final three minutes.

Despite shooting just 17.6% from beyond the arc, Oklahoma City made up for it at the free-throw line, converting 34 attempts. Jalen Williams scored 27 points while Alex Caruso added 20, keeping OKC afloat until the fourth-quarter rally.

A Painful Missed Opportunity for Indiana

The Pacers had a golden opportunity to take a 3-1 lead in the series, a position from which only one team in NBA history has failed to win the title. Leading by double digits late in the third quarter, Indiana’s offense stalled. They managed only 18 points over the final 14 minutes and just 17 in the fourth quarter.

Their defense had done the job. They forced isolation plays, limited ball movement, and benefited from OKC’s poor perimeter shooting. But when it mattered most, they couldn’t close. It was a textbook case of a winnable game slipping away.

Haliburton Steps Up, But It’s Not Enough

Tyrese Haliburton tried to take control late in the game, showing a more aggressive side by attempting seven shots in the fourth quarter, his highest in any quarter of the Finals. He attacked the rim with intent and scored eight points in the final frame.

Still, his teammates contributed just nine points in the fourth. Despite Haliburton’s shift toward a more traditional star role, the shots simply didn’t fall. His decision-making remained sound, but the execution wasn’t there. The Thunder’s poor shooting luck from earlier games finally flipped, and it was Indiana that went cold at the worst time.

Lineup Decisions Shape the Battle

The Thunder’s decision to start Cason Wallace over Isaiah Hartenstein has been a talking point all Finals. That lineup has generally performed well, but in Game 4, the starters were outscored by two points in their minutes together. In response, OKC experimented with double-big lineups and rotational tweaks.

The results were mixed, but effective enough to stabilize the game. Still, defending Indiana’s spread offense with two centers proved tricky. Interestingly, OKC hasn’t yet tried Alex Caruso in the starting five, something that might change as the series tightens.

Series Tied, Momentum Swings to OKC

With the win, Oklahoma City regains home-court advantage. They've only lost twice at home this postseason, making them a tough out moving forward. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may have struggled early, but his fourth-quarter takeover reminded everyone why he's this year’s MVP.

For Indiana, the loss will hurt. They were one solid quarter away from controlling the series. Now, it’s a best-of-three, and Game 5 in OKC could be a defining moment for both franchises chasing their first-ever NBA title.