NBA legend Magic Johnson pinpointed the key factor behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth-quarter vanishing act in Oklahoma City’s crucial Game 3 defeat.
“The Pacers’ full-court pressure defense wore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander down,” Johnson tweeted, “and that’s a big reason why the NBA MVP wasn’t effective in the fourth quarter!” The Hall of Famer’s analysis perfectly captures how Indiana’s defensive adjustments neutralized the Thunder superstar when it mattered most.
Despite finishing with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, SGA looked completely gassed in the final frame after Indiana’s guards – led by Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith – hounded him baseline-to-baseline. The Pacers’ suffocating traps on every pick-and-roll forced the MVP to work relentlessly just to catch the ball, resulting in a dramatic fourth-quarter collapse where OKC’s offense scored just 18 points to Indiana’s 32.
The Pacers full court pressure defense wore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander down and that’s a big reason why the NBA MVP wasn’t effective in the fourth quarter!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 12, 2025
The 116-107 final score tells the story of two different games – one where SGA dominated for three quarters, and another where Indiana’s defensive execution completely took over. With the series now 2-1 in favor of the Pacers, the Thunder must find answers for Indiana’s exhausting defensive scheme before Game 4.
ongoing story…
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