Thunders Collective Effort Leads to Game 4 Win, Setting Stage for NBA Finals Showdown

In the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder proved once again that they are a team with a collective mindset. In Game 4, they rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Indiana Pacers 111-104, tying the series at 2-2. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and the contributions of each player.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP of the series, led the Thunder with a game-high 35 points, including a career-high 15-point fourth quarter. However, he was quick to credit his teammates for their efforts, saying "No one-man show achieves what I'm trying to achieve with this game...those guys are the reason why we're as good of a team as we are."

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder's big man, added 14 points and 15 rebounds in 37 minutes, while Jalen Williams scored 27 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. Williams' performance was particularly impressive as he carried the offense early in the game and hit a tough fadeaway shot to keep the Thunder within striking distance late in the third quarter.

Alex Caruso, the Thunder's defensive stopper, also had a big game with 20 points and three rebounds in 33 minutes. He redoubled his efforts in Game 4 to find solutions and make plays, showing his versatility and ability to channel his competitive energy into specific solutions.

Luguentz Dort set the tone for the Thunder on the defensive end with his overwhelming physicality. His effort was contagious for the rest of the team, who held the Pacers to 5-for-18 shooting in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder's success was not just about individual performances, but about their collective effort and ability to execute in crucial moments. Holmgren proved his versatility by holding his own when switched onto Indiana's quick guards on four critical possessions in the final three minutes of the game.

"We never wavered—never thought we might lose this game," Caruso said. "We were concentrating on trying to win it, on trying to solve the puzzle, figure out a way to make plays down the stretch to win the game."

With home-court advantage restored, the Thunder will now return to Oklahoma City tied up in the series. "No matter what happens—good or bad, pretty or ugly—we're always going to stick together," Holmgren said. "We're going to win together, we're going to lose together, we're going to have great moments together, we're going to fail together."

The Thunder's collective mindset and ability to execute in crucial moments will be key as they look to close out the series and advance to the next round of the NBA Finals.