The NBA Finals continue Friday night with Game 4 between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 PM ET. Indiana holds a 2-1 series lead after taking Game 3 at home by a score of 116-107.
Oklahoma City came into the Finals with the best record in the West at 68-14 and had only lost back-to-back games twice all year. Indiana finished fourth in the East at 50-32 and continues to play strong as an underdog in the playoffs. The Thunder are listed as 6-point road favorites with the over/under set at 225.5 points.
Pacers Preview – Can the Home Court Magic Continue?
Indiana shot 51.8% from the floor in Game 3 and held Oklahoma City under 110 points for the second time this series. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. He was efficient from the field and in control most of the game.
Pascal Siakam added 21 points and 6 rebounds while Myles Turner, despite battling an illness, made key plays late. Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith chipped in with good perimeter defense. The Pacers continue to close games strong, outscoring the Thunder 67-43 in the fourth quarter across their two wins.
Indiana ranks top 10 in three-point shooting and free throw percentage in the playoffs. Their team defense has improved over the last two rounds. Indiana is 36-13 at home this season and will try to use the crowd to take a 3-1 series lead.
Thunder Preview – Will the MVP Push Them Back?
Oklahoma City dropped Game 3 despite solid efforts from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and 8 rebounds, while Williams led the team with 26 points. Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 10 rebounds but the team gave up too many easy shots inside.
The Thunder were outscored in the second half and allowed Indiana to pull away late. They shot just 43.8% from the field and struggled to get stops in the fourth quarter. Head coach Mark Daigneault said the team needs to return to its defensive roots to win on the road.
OKC leads the league in steals and turnover margin. They’re also one of the best teams in the league at covering the first-half and first-quarter moneylines, hitting both at over 70% across their last 40 games. Expect the Thunder to come out with urgency and try to set the tone early.
Betting Prediction
Oklahoma City is -6 on the road despite trailing in the series. They’ve been excellent at bouncing back after losses and are 63-35-4 against the spread this year. The Thunder are 36-12 away from home and usually respond well after defensive lapses.
Indiana is 49-51-1 ATS this season and just 27-23 ATS at home. The total of 225.5 is near the series average, but the Pacers have hit the over in 6 of their last 10 against the Thunder. Look for a better defensive effort from Oklahoma City. Prediction: Thunder 114, Pacers 106.
Pick: Thunder -6
