Pacers Tactical Defense Stifles Thunder MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Faces Uphill Battle in Game 4

In the fourth game of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers continued their relentless defensive strategy against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with a particular focus on limiting the impact of star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers' defensive effort was led by Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, and Aaron Nesmith, who sent a defender to greet Gilgeous-Alexander an average of 68 feet away from their own basket, effectively cutting off his breathing room and forcing him to work harder than usual. The result was a further drop in Gilgeous-Alexander's offensive efficiency. In Game 3, he had been limited to just six points on 2-for-7 shooting with two assists and three turnovers when Nembhard was on him. In Game 4, he managed to score 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting with three assists and two turnovers, but it was clear that he was still struggling to find his rhythm. The Pacers' defensive effort was not just about containing Gilgeous-Alexander but also about making it difficult for him to receive the ball. In Game 4, he had just 50 touches and 5.5 minutes of possession, with the rest of the plays redistributed to other players. Nembhard's aggressive play continued to set the tone for the night, earning an early offensive foul on Gilgeous-Alexander just eight seconds into the game. The Pacers' strategy was to make Gilgeous-Alexander work on both ends of the court. They played him higher up the floor in pick-and-rolls, sent a second defender at him in double-teams, and trapped the ball in the pick-and-roll. The intensity, physicality, and constancy of Indiana's defense led Oklahoma City to look for alternate pathways to move the ball up the court, resulting in a postseason-high 21 turnovers. Despite his struggles, Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged that he couldn't afford to let fatigue be a factor in Game 5, which was set to be played on Sunday in downtown Indianapolis. "You got to suck it up," he said. "There's a maximum four games left in the season. It's what you worked the whole season for. It's what you worked all summer for." The Pacers' defensive effort paid dividends once again, as they held the Thunder to just 16 points on 5-for-19 shooting with six turnovers in the fourth quarter. The victory sealed a 119-106 win for the Pacers and gave them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The massive Game 5 on Sunday will be a crucial test for both teams as they battle for a spot in the NBA Finals.