Thunder Falls to Pacers Due to Errors: Will OKC Be Able to React in NBA Finals?

INDIANAPOLIS – Jalen Williams hit a difficult three-pointer as the buzzer sounded at the end of the third quarter, giving the Oklahoma City Thunder a five-point lead. However, things didn’t go well for them after that.

We just made a lot of unforced errors. They capitalized, because they are a good team.

Jalen WilliamsThe Thunder were outscored 32-18 in the last quarter. This is the second time this postseason that Indiana has outscored Oklahoma City by a double-digit margin in the final period, making the difference in the series. The Pacers, who lead 2-1, came back in the last quarter in both victories.

In the last quarter, I think they really outplayed us on both sides of the court. They were consistent in their physical play and their defensive pressure, and they kept a good pace on offense.

Mark Daigneault, Thunder coach

The Pacers improved to 9-1 in close games this season. This situation is familiar to the Thunder, who came back from a 2-1 deficit against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, ultimately winning in seven games.

We have a great opportunity here. The good thing is that we have another game ahead, Game 4. We can’t think about frustration or anything. No matter how well or how badly things go, the focus can’t be on your emotions. It has to be on what we are trying to achieve, the task at hand.

Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City center

Oklahoma City missed nine of its last 10 field goals, after allowing the Pacers to score. That slump began after a Williams shot brought the Thunder within one point of the Pacers with 5:58 remaining. The Thunder’s only basket down the stretch was a mid-range shot by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but it was the MVP’s only field goal in the final quarter. He was limited to three points with 1 of 3 shooting and no assists in the final period.

They were aggressive. They were very intense. I’m not sure how many points they scored, but I felt like when they scored, we were playing against a set defense, and it’s always more difficult against a set defense.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting, his lowest-scoring performance since the Game 3 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. He had four assists and six turnovers, the first time this postseason he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio.

It comes down to being a little more forceful. If we’re more aggressive in the pick-and-roll and set it up, then we get a better angle. Things like that usually depend on who throws the first punch.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder’s two defeats in the Finals have occurred because the Pacers have launched a flurry of blows at the end.

To win games of this magnitude, at this level, we have to be better. We need to close out games, close out quarters, close out possessions. It’s not just about the end of the game. We have to figure out how to put ourselves in a better position during the 48 minutes.

Chet Holmgren

Game 4 is on Friday in Indianapolis.