The Pacers are hosting the Thunder for Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday. After winning Game 3 on Wednesday, the Pacers lead this series 2-1. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Thunder are a six-point favorite for Game 4 and this contest carries a total of 226.5 points.
Below, I break down Game 4 between the Thunder and Pacers and give a pick for the game via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Thunder vs. Pacers preview, prediction
After the Thunder beat the Pacers by 17 points in Game 2 to even this series, Indiana returned home for Game 4 and flipped the script, beating Oklahoma City by nine points to take a 2-1 series lead. It was a competitive affair until the Pacers ran away with the win the fourth quarter. Both teams lead by as many as nine points and there was nine different lead changes in Game 3.
For the Pacers, Tyrese Halliburton continued to impress with a near triple-double of 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, and Pascal Siakam scored 21 points. While these two performances were huge, Indiana’s bench was the star of the show. Bennedcit Mathurin was brilliant with a team-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting in just 22 minutes and the pesky TJ McConnell added 10 points, five assists and a game-high five steals.
In the loss for the Thunder, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were excellent, scoring 26 and 20 points, respectively. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a disappointment by his standards. The MVP finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and he only scored three points in the fourth quarter when Indiana made it’s run to secure the win. The Thunder obviously need Gilgeous-Alexander to be more productive as a scorer if the team wants to bounce back in Game 4, especially in the late and important moments. The Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander particularly have been outstanding after a loss this postseason, and the guard should return to his MVP form in Game 4. Following a defeat during these playoffs, Oklahoma City is 5-0 and Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 33.6 PPG in those victories.
While the Pacers received some heroic performances from Mathurin and McConnell in Game 3, its hard to expect these type of outings from role players again in Game 4, especially with a Thunder team on the other side that adjusts extremely well after a loss. Indiana needs both Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard to get back on track after both players scored single digits in Game 3. Additionally, the Pacers need both Haliburton and Siakam to keep producing at high level if the team wants to a chance at taking a 3-1 series lead in Game 4.
Thunder vs. Pacers pick, best bet
There is no team better after a loss in the NBA than the Thunder this season and the club should even this series up at two games apiece in Game 4. Oklahoma City is a league-best 18-2 after a defeat this season with a 14.2 margin of victory and in the Thunder’s second round series vs. the Nuggets, Oklahoma City was in the exact same situation, trailing 1-2 heading into Game 4 on the road and the Thunder responded with a five-point win Game 4 to tie the series.
That being said, Oklahoma City hasn’t been great at covering on the road this season, with a 25-21-2 ATS record. The team is a six-point road favorite for Game 4 and this situation, attacking the Thunder at an alternate line is a smart move, specifically -4.5 at a -141 price on DraftKings Sportsbook. This postseason, four of the Thunder’s five wins after a loss have been by at least five points.
