In a white -heated to white gay, the Thunder start these finals in the best of ways against Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,, Chet Holmgren And Jalen Williams initiate a 7-0, while Luguentz Dort And Cason Wallaceinserted in the five in place of Isaiah Hartenstein, impose their law in defense.
After three minutes without scoring, Indiana lets the thunderstorm pass and revives thanks to Pascal Siakam Midfart, taking advantage of OKC's “switches” to punish the smallest Wallace Capon. The Thunder loses its address and a 3-point of Andrew Nembhard Allows Pacers to pick up.
A time-mort by Mark Daigneault wokes up directly his team, whose defensive intensity increases, causing 9 balls lost in the first quarter alone, while the 19 points of the Gilgeous-Alexander duo-Hartenstein punish the players of Rick Carlisle (29-20).
The pacers remain in ambush …
Also dominated in the offensive rebound, the Pacers largely lose the battle of possession in this first half, but they still manage to hang on. Two baskets of TJ McConnell in the racket, a 3-point of Ben Sheppard, a 3-point of Tyrese Haliburton and a defense which limits OKC to 35% of address leaves them nearby (41-37).
But as often in these playoffs, when the Thunder feels danger, it responds. His musical defense Indiana for three minutes and three 3-point baskets of Lu sleeps give 13 points ahead of the locals. It takes once again the whole grinta of TJ McConnell to stop the hemorrhage, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps the head of Indy under water before the break (57-45).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams dig the gap
While Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort continues their festival in third quarter, the Pacers do not let go. Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton then Obi Toppin (17 points, 5/8 3-point) stabilize the gap (77-66). The Thunder does not manage to drop his opponent, however, and as against Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York, Indiana is slowly but surely gets closer. Three good minutes of Thomas Bryant confirm the revival of the Pacers and a 3-point of Pascal Siakam forgotten in the corner brings visitors to -6 just before the end of the third quarter (82-76)!
As in the second quarter, Oklahoma City immediately reverses the trend. A 3-point of SGA to finish the third quarter, and 6 points from Jalen Williams in the first two minutes of the last period launched a 12-3 which offers the Thunder its biggest advantage of the match (94-79).
The Pacers rebuild their “special”!
However, the Pacers refuse to abdicate. Three awarded shots by Myles Turner (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Obi Toppin finish a 15-3 which completely relaunches the end of the match (102-98)! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander then took his responsibilities to restore 9 points ahead of the Thunder, but Aaron Nesmith (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Andrew Nembhard mark two 3-points in a row to bring Indiana to -3 (110-107)!
In the process, OKC Procective and Pascal Siakam takes the opportunity to further reduce the gap (110-109). Despite the loss of a video challenge, a good defense of the Pacers forces a difficult SGA shot. With less than ten seconds at the time, Rick Carlisle does not take time and Tyrese Halliburton proves him right. There is a half-fate shot and crucified the Thunder and the 19,200 people present in the Paycc Center to offer a completely crazy new heist!
What to remember
– Indiana's “serial robbers” have still struck. After Milwaukee, Cleveland then New York, it was Oklahoma City who suffered the dazzling return of the Pacers, to lose a dominated match for … 47 minutes and 59 seconds! Indiana finished on a 32-16 (!) In nine minutes, to shock the whole planet basketball. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (38 points at 14/30) had taken over a strangely behind Tyrese Haliburton (14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 passes), it was the Indy leader who finally stole the show, by planting the win of the win at the last second. Completely crazy!
– Mark Daigneault had drew the first. Before the start of these finals, many speculated on the possibility of seeing OKC use his “lineups” in a single interior, even downright interior, so that he can better control the incessant movement of Indiana. Mark Daigneault even went even further: he changed his five to start with Chet Holmgren into a pivot and he never played with two interiors from all over the game. What worked for 45 minutes …
– And yet, Indy was “golden”. If the Thunder has run in mind the whole match, it ended with only 40% success. His defense allowed him to control the first three quarters, with Lu sleeps who set the tone. Omnipresent, he finished half-time with 4 interceptions, out of the 12 of his team. The Pacers have spoiled 19 balls, while they are one of the teams that loses the least! But the incessant activity and pressure of this defense of OKC made them sink: 25 ball losses on arrival, their worst total of the season. Without preventing this historic “heist”, because solutions were then found …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7abrqauz7e
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How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
