Shai revives Oklahoma and ties 2-2 in the NBA Finals

They were on the ropes for three quarters, but they came back in the fourth. The Oklahoma City Thunder rallied against the Indiana Pacers 104-111 on Friday, thanks to 15 points in the fourth quarter from a brilliant Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, and tied the NBA Finals at 2-2.

The Thunder trailed by 10 points in the final minutes of the third quarter and were down 4 with 3:52 left, but closed out the game with a flawless 3-14 run, led by Shai, that left Indiana speechless. Oklahoma, which thus regained home-court advantage, will host Game 5 on Monday, while Game 6 will be played on Thursday in Indiana, and Game 7 is expected to take place on Sunday, back in Oklahoma.

The collapse in the final stretch, with more than three minutes without a single field goal, cost Indiana dearly. Indiana already had a 3-1 lead and was just one win away from its first championship, but now must at least win an away game. Shai, the regular-season MVP, stepped up as the Thunder, the team with the league 's best record (68-14), looked close to the precipice.

The Canadian point guard put in a memorable performance in the final minutes, finishing with 35 points (12 of 24 from the field and 10 of 10 from the free throw line), 3 rebounds, and 3 steals. He was joined by Jalen Williams (27 points and 7 rebounds) and a superb Alex Caruso (20 points and 5 steals off the bench), but overall, Oklahoma's offense was very lackluster, with a dreadful 3 of 17 shooting from three (17.6%) and just 10 assists across the team. In the end, it was, once again, their imposing defense that pulled the game off against a Pacers team that missed a fantastic opportunity.

Pascal Siakam (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals), Tyrese Haliburton (18 points and 7 assists but 5 turnovers) and Obi Toppin (fantastic off the bench with 17 points and 7 rebounds) led Indiana, who lost despite scoring 8 more three-pointers than Oklahoma (11 of 36, 30.6%) but whose inferiority in the final stretch was evident (4 rebounds to 12 of the Thunder in the last quarter).

Oklahoma silences Indiana

On another exciting night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Mark Daigneault shook things up and instead of starting a big man alongside Cason Wallace, which had been his first for these Finals, he went back to starting two centers with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.

Oklahoma looked to build on the inside and rebound—they ultimately won the paint 50-36—but Indiana responded with dynamite from the perimeter and 4-for-5 on three-pointers—including a long-range shot from Haliburton—for a blistering start (20-12 with 7:01 left). Faced with a fresh, confident Pacers offense led by Siakam (10 points plus 4 steals), Oklahoma struggled to get into the game on both offense and defense.

Read also Indiana crushes Oklahoma and takes the lead in the NBA Finals Agencies

Fortunately for the visitors, Williams carried the team on his shoulders (12 points), and the difference on the scoreboard was minuscule compared to the feeling on the court (35-34). The game changed in the second quarter. Indiana lost its fluidity on offense and grew frustrated with the referees—the home crowd was highly critical of the officials—while Oklahoma settled in on defense. Sparks also flew when Hartenstein confronted Toppin after a dubious flagrant foul on Caruso on a fast break.

The Thunder's substitute was one of the biggest names in the first half, playing the role of arsonist that TJ McConnell executed to perfection in Game 3 for the Pacers. Oklahoma was up to 6 despite its sluggish offense, but Haliburton, who had been very scattered until then, sprang into action to create a 15-6 run that gave the Pacers a 60-57 lead at the end of the first half.

Siakam (14 points and 4 steals), Haliburton (8 points and 5 assists) and McConnell (again doing damage off the bench with 8 points) led Indiana's scoring while Oklahoma, with a horrible 1 of 10 on threes and only 6 assists, relied on Williams (16 points), Shai (12 points) and Caruso (11 points and 4 steals).

The Thunder needed to radically change their offense, but they got bogged down again with too many clearances, an excess of heroic plays, mistake after mistake on the perimeter, and no ball movement. Meanwhile, Rick Carlisle's team showed their mettle, and two three-pointers followed by a tremendous Toppin (8 points in the third quarter) sent the Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a frenzy (80-72 with 4:11 left).

Shai (8 points in the third quarter) and Williams (7) waged war on their own, and Oklahoma, which for the first time was trailing by 10 points, resisted Indiana's onslaught heading into the final quarter (87-80). And when least expected, the Thunder came back from the dead. Holmgren, who was having an evening to forget, reappeared from nowhere with 6 crucial points for a 2-9 run that saw the visitors tie the score (89-89 with 8:13 left).

The Pacers entered the final four minutes with a 4-point advantage, resorting to free throws, and the Thunder's final shot was clear: balls to Shai. The MVP responded like only geniuses do with seven straight points, and Oklahoma enjoyed its first lead since the second quarter (103-104 with 2:21 left).

Indiana collapsed at the worst possible moment, with a completely disoriented offense, and Oklahoma, with Shai as the enforcer, bagged the win and tied the series on their way back home.