Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers lost Game 4 after a late-game collapse and a clutch performance from the MVP. It was a big night for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who tied the series at 2-2.
The Indiana Pacers were on their way to taking a commanding 3-1 lead after a strong Game 4 performance. That was not the case because the 2024-25 MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had different plans.
The MVP had a fantastic fourth quarter, scoring 15 of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s last 16 points for the win. It was a Kobe Bryant-esque performance, who is, coincidentally, Gilgeous-Alexander’s favorite player.
This NBA Finals continues to heat up, as it is shaping up to be a full seven-game series. Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle knows they have a tough test, especially with the MVP playing well.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesCarlisle believes the MVP is more than just free throws
It has become popular to talk about Gilgeous-Alexander and his free-throw shooting. Labeled a “free-throw merchant” by a good number of NBA fans, Gilgeous-Alexander does not care. He plays the game at maximum effectiveness.
Carlisle also disagrees with people talking about Gilgeous-Alexander purely for his free throws. He embellishes the contact at times, but he is not flopping every time. The crafty style is working, but Carlisle wants to shut him down completely.
In Game 4, Gilgeous-Alexander ended up with 35 points. He scored 15 of the Thunder’s last 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead his team to the win. It was a remarkable performance that Carlisle had nothing bad to say about the MVP.
“He got to the free-throw line, but I didn’t think he made it to the free-throw line in the first half. Fouls were an issue. Look, he’s a great player, that’s the other issue. He’s the MVP,” Carlisle said in his post-Game 4 press conference.
“Look, we had some terrific opportunities that we cashed in on in the third quarter. There were some in the late third quarter that we did not, that would’ve made it tougher for them.”
The Pacers have a tough task ahead in the rest of the Finals
With the MVP playing at this elite level, the Pacers will have a hard time stopping the Thunder. They have not unlocked their full potential, but they still tied the series at 2-2.
Coach Carlisle has been here before as a champion coach, and he wants the Pacers to stay ready. He knows the Thunder are raring to go at Paycom Center, which will be a hostile environment for the Pacers.
Andrew Nembhard has done a great job guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, but he needs assistance. In Game 4, he did well defending him for the first three quarters. The rest of the team must step up and help him in Game 5.
The rest of the Thunder roster, particularly Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are also threats. Indiana must be ready to keep fighting because they have a good chance to compete against the Thunder.