Pacers and Thunder are set for a
pivotal Game 5 in an NBA Finals that has been back and forth
[June 16, 2025]
By TIM REYNOLDS
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The ratings are down for these NBA Finals, as
was expected. Oklahoma City vs. Indiana is a small-market series and
the numbers reflect that, with viewership down about 20% from last
season and on pace for the poorest TV turnout since the pandemic
“bubble” finals in 2020.
Don't blame the Thunder and Pacers for that.
It's been a back-and-forth over the first four games — and now, a
best-of-three will decide the NBA title. Game 5 is in Oklahoma City
on Monday night, with the Thunder trying to take their first lead of
the series and the Pacers trying to head back home one win away from
a championship.
“I do not care, to be honest with you," Pacers star Tyrese
Haliburton said when asked what he'd say to those who, for whatever
reason, haven't tuned into the series. “This is high-level
basketball and I'm excited to be a part of it.”
Game 1 had a frantic Indiana comeback and a Haliburton
buzzer-beater. Game 2 saw Oklahoma City do what it has done in the
majority of games all season: take full control early and roll to a
win. Game 3 in Indiana had the Pacers' bench fueling a win. And Game
4 saw the MVP do MVP things, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 15
points in the final five minutes to carry the Thunder to a comeback
win.
Add it up, and it's Thunder 2, Pacers 2. The Thunder are outscoring
the Pacers by 3.3 points per game; the Pacers are outshooting the
Thunder by 1.4%. It's only the third time in the last 15 years that
the finals have had all that through four games — 2-2 tie, 3.3-point
differential or less, shooting within 1.4% of each other. Golden
State-Boston had it in 2022, and Dallas-Miami had it in 2011.
It all seems pretty even, and the looks aren't deceiving.
“It's good for y’all," Thunder guard Alex Caruso said. “Good for me,
we’d be getting ready for a parade right now.”
Parades in Indianapolis or Oklahoma City are going to have to wait
at least until this coming weekend. This series seems like it could
have debunked some of the tired complaints about the game in recent
years: the nobody-plays-defense, too-much-isolation, too-many-3s
arguments that have been out there.
“I think from an outside perspective it’s great for the league,”
Caruso said. “It’s great for basketball. I think these two teams
play stylistically the best versions of basketball right now as far
as pressure and being influencing and aggressive on defense —
causing turnovers, making stuff hard and then offensively
free-flowing, shot making, passing the ball. ... A great brand of
basketball.”
And that means it could end up as a great finals, whether more
people start watching or not.
“We appreciate the opportunity to play this deep into the season,”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “If you’re playing this deep
into the season, your opponent is going to be really good. They have
won 12 games to get to this point just like we have. You just know
it’s going to be an unbelievable level. There are definitely times
in it where (you're saying), ‘Man, this is a high, high level.’"
[to top of second column] |
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton reacts after making a three
pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of
Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 11,
2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
This marks the 32nd time that a finals has been 2-2
going into Game 5. The winner of Game 5 has gone on to ultimately
prevail in 23 of the 31 previous occasions.
“We are both two games away," Haliburton said. “Anything can happen
here.”
Shai's climb
Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 3,091 points this season — including the
regular season and playoffs. That's the 18th most in NBA history and
the reigning MVP could climb several more spots on that list before
this series ends.
He's 72 points shy of matching Michael Jordan's 3,163 in 1991-92 for
the 10th most in a season.
“I think above all, it’s been very fun,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of
his first finals. “It’s been everything I dreamt it to be growing
up. There’s no other place in the world I’d rather be, and I’m
grateful to be here. Thankful for the experience, for sure.”
Pacers after losses
Indiana's resilience is about to be tested again.
The Pacers haven't lost back-to-back games since mid-March, going
10-0 in that span in the game immediately following a defeat.
“We play better with our backs against the wall,” forward Myles
Turner said. “Adversity is something that’s going to bring out the
best in you. I think that’s really what it is, is just a response.
... When your back is against the wall, that’s typically where we
get our best basketball.”
Road records
Taking the regular season, the playoffs and the play-in tournament
into account, there have been 597 wins by road teams this season in
the NBA.
That matches last season's total — and is one shy of the record of
598 set in 2021-22.
Walker update
Without definitively ruling him out, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle
indicated that reserve forward Jarace Walker's season is over.
Walker sprained his ankle late in the series-clinching Game 6
victory over New York in the Eastern Conference finals. He's off
crutches but still walking with a limp.
“It’s very unlikely that he’ll be able to play in this series. But
he is doing better,” Carlisle said. “It would be great if he was
available because I do think he would help us.”
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