The Indiana Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 4 of the NBA Finals with a 2-1 series lead and a surge of momentum after an emphatic 116-107 victory in Game 3 that put the basketball world on notice and brought them within striking distance of an improbable championship run. Under Rick Carlisle’s leadership, the Pacers have flourished by embracing an identity rooted in speed, spacing, and selfless basketball, with Tyrese Haliburton serving as the engine that drives their hyper-kinetic offense and disruptive full-court defense. Game 3 was a masterpiece of pace and pressure, as Haliburton dissected Oklahoma City’s top-ranked playoff defense with timely threes, precise dimes, and poised control, while the supporting cast turned defensive stops into instant offense. Veteran presence has anchored this team, with Myles Turner providing rim protection and spacing, Pascal Siakam delivering playoff savvy and clutch scoring, and the young trio of Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Ben Sheppard rising to the moment with fearless shot-making and tireless energy. Carlisle’s adjustment to deploy more aggressive traps and deny Shai Gilgeous-Alexander clean looks disrupted the Thunder’s offensive flow, while Indiana’s physicality on the boards and in passing lanes left OKC reeling late.

The crowd in Indianapolis has grown louder with each win, transforming Gainbridge Fieldhouse into one of the most raucous and intimidating venues in these playoffs—a place where the Pacers are now feeding off emotion, belief, and a deep sense of purpose. Indiana’s 9-3 ATS record this postseason underscores how consistently they’ve exceeded expectations, and their balanced scoring threats make them difficult to scheme against, especially when they’re pushing the pace and collapsing defenses with dribble penetration. Carlisle has managed the rotation masterfully, getting meaningful minutes from nearly every player while preserving legs for crunch-time execution, and the chemistry and unity on display speaks to a team that not only believes it can win—it expects to. Game 4 represents both an opportunity and a test: a win would bring the Pacers to the doorstep of an NBA title, while a loss would reset the series and shift homecourt back to Oklahoma City. To stay on track, Indiana must continue swarming defensively, forcing OKC’s young core into mistakes, and executing their unselfish offense that spreads the floor and finds the open man. With history within reach, the Pacers are playing not just with house money, but with a hungry edge that makes them look less like Cinderella and more like a team of destiny.