Its game night in Indiana and all the pressure is on the Thunder. Another loss puts them in a 3-1 deficit, and only one team in NBA history has managed to dig themselves out of that hole. So, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co.’s title dream might rest on the tonight’s outcome, which is why they need to bring their A game. Amid the high stakes, ESPN veteran Stephen A. Smith had a stern warning for them.
During the pregame NBA Countdown, Smith said, “The Oklahoma City Thunder on the brink of losing the Finals. If the Indiana Pacers win tonight, they are winning the championship. It’s just that simple. Oklahoma City, this is it right here, this game.” Sure, OKC has been the best team in the league all year, finishing with 68 regular season wins and maintaining that form throughout the playoffs. But even with their talent, overcoming a 3-1 deficit will be nearly impossible.
So far in this series, SGA and Co. have been outplayed by the Pacers, especially in the fourth quarter. Rick Carlisle has masterfully used his team’s pace to its advantage, leaving OKC fatigued as games progress. Even during Wednesday’s clash, Thunder players looked gassed as the night went on, which was a key reason behind their nine-point loss. And Stephen A. reminded them that they need to better in the final period if they want to win, “It’s not good enough that you’ve led after three quarters every game. You gotta show up in the fourth quarter. That’s when games are won, that’s when championships are won.”
“If the Indiana Pacers win tonight, they are winning the championship.”
—@stephenasmith before a pivotal Game 4 #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/Hbqysg0LWJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 13, 2025
Another major reason behind OKC’s loss was the performance of their bench, as the ESPN analyst pointed out, “Indiana’s bench is outplaying Oklahoma City’s bench. 49-18 advantage in Game 3, 112-94 overall in the first three games of this series.” In Game 3, Bennedict Mathurin dropped 27 points off the bench for Indiana, while TJ McConnell posted a historic stat line of 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Meanwhile, OKC’s bench was basically a non-factor the entire game, combining for just eighteen points. The Pacers have clearly looked hungrier in this series, and Stephen A. wants OKC to come out with the same mentality, “That’s why Indiana is up 2-1 right now because they’re the ones playing like they want a championship. Oklahoma City’s gotta do the same.”
(Developing Story)
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