{"id":97701,"date":"2025-06-14T06:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T06:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/97701\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T06:28:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T06:28:11","slug":"stephen-a-smith-drops-monster-prediction-about-pacers-game-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/97701\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen A. Smith drops monster prediction about Pacers\u2019 Game 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

The post Stephen A. Smith drops monster prediction about Pacers\u2019 Game 4<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>.<\/p>\n

INDIANA \u2014 With the Indiana Pacers<\/a> entering Game 4 two wins away from winning the NBA Finals, ESPN\u2019s Stephen A Smith made a bold prediction before tip-off.\u00a0Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers\u2019 historic run<\/a> have the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> with their backs against the ropes, leading the best-of-7 series 2-1 with home-court advantage on their side.<\/p>\n

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If the Pacers can win their second game<\/a> at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, they will become the 2025 NBA champions, according to Smith.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of losing the NBA Finals,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIf the Indiana Pacers win tonight, they are winning the championship. It\u2019s just that simple. Oklahoma City, this is it right here. This game. SGA. That bench. Indiana\u2019s bench is outplaying Oklahoma City\u2019s bench. 49-18 advantage in Game 3? 120-94 overall in the first three games of this series.<\/p>\n

\u201cSGA is being held to 35 percent shooting when Nembhard is guarding him, with Carlisle pushing the pace, wearing cats down, having the Oklahoma City Thunder gasping for air.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pacers\u2019 pressure led to a 15-point comeback in the fourth quarter of Game 1, leading to a 110-100 victory in the series opener. After losing Game 2, the Pacers protected home court in Wednesday\u2019s matchup and now have an opportunity to take a 3-1 lead on Friday. For Stephen A Smith, the Thunder must flip a switch in order to have a chance to win an NBA title.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat they\u2019ve been doing. It\u2019s not good enough. It\u2019s not good enough that you\u2019ve led after three quarters in every game,\u201d Smith added. \u201cYou gotta show up in the fourth quarter. That\u2019s when games are won. That\u2019s when championships are won, and that\u2019s why Indiana is up 2-1 right now because they\u2019re the ones playing like they want a championship. Oklahoma City\u2019s gotta do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian Windhorst on critical Thunder-Pacers matchup in Game 4\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

From one ESPN analyst\u2019s take to another, Brian Windhorst says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s matchup is critical<\/a> against Pacers\u2019 Andrew Nembhard. For Windhorst, the winner of that battle will lead their team to victory in Game 4, per ESPN\u2019s NBA Today.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI do, it\u2019s the Canadiens. Andrew Nembhard and SGA. This has been an unexpected war between these guys. Look, SGA\u2019s numbers are really good, but SGA\u2019s standard is very high. Nembhard has given him some problems. First off, he\u2019s seven of 20 shooting is exactly in that moment, but Nembhard as a primary defender, seven of 20, that\u2019s 35%, that is not how Shai rolls.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pacers will look to grab a 3-1 lead in Game 4 on Friday.<\/p>\n

Related: Fans can\u2019t believe Pacers blew Game 4 of NBA Finals vs. Thunder<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Pacers\u2019 Aaron Nesmith fouls out on clutch shot from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a><\/p>\n