INDIANAPOLIS — Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti wore a look of concern as he navigated the concourse of Gainbridge Fieldhouse following a tough 116-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers, leaving the Thunder trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. The high expectations surrounding Oklahoma City, a 68-win team favored to dominate in this series, now hang in the balance as they face the possibility of a season ending without a championship.
Head coach Mark Daigneault struggled to identify a singular reason for his team’s uncharacteristic performance, citing a staggering 19 turnovers—just shy of the season high—as indicative of their struggles. “We usually handle the ball cleanly,” Daigneault noted, attributing part of their issue to Indiana’s effective play. The Pacers outpaced the Thunder, preventing them from settling into their typical defensive strategy, which left Oklahoma City unable to maintain their physical style of play.
Despite the season’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showcasing remarkable ability throughout the playoffs, he struggled in Game 3, converting only three shots in the fourth quarter without any assists. “They executed on both ends of the ball,” he remarked, admitting the Pacers’ dominance in securing crucial 50/50 plays during that critical period.
The Thunder’s usual strengths faltered, including their performance at the free-throw line, where they missed seven of 30 attempts—a rare misstep for the league’s top shooting team. This culminated in a loss that felt entirely foreign to Oklahoma City, leaving them searching for answers regarding why they could not find their rhythm during such a pivotal game.
The Thunder have found themselves in this position before, having similarly lost Game 3 in their previous series against the Denver Nuggets. Some players, like forward Jalen Williams, expressed optimism, asserting that they could learn from the experience and regroup for Game 4. Others, including veteran Alex Caruso, emphasized the heightened stakes in the Finals, noting the sting of lost opportunities.
One contrasting factor in these Finals remains the presence of Indiana’s talented young roster led by Tyrese Haliburton, who is just 25 years old and mirrors the age of Gilgeous-Alexander. This shared youth may give the Pacers an edge of freedom as they play without the weight of expectations that heavily encumber Oklahoma City.
As the series shifts back to Indiana for Game 4, where the Pacers thrive on the support of their energetic crowd, the Thunder must regain their focus and tenacity. With history showing that the winner of Game 3 wins the series 80.5% of the time, should Indiana secure another win, Oklahoma City would face an uphill battle; they need to tap into their identity and perform at their best to have a fighting chance.
Daigneault’s hope is clear: “We’ve got to learn from it and then tap back into being who we are in Game 4. If we do that, I think we’ll have a much better chance to win.” As the Thunder prepares for this critical match, fans are hopeful that they will rediscover their championship potential.