In the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves grappling with a less-than-ideal predicament after three challenging games against the Indiana Pacers. The series began with a heart-wrenching loss for the Thunder due to a last-minute shot from the opposition. They bounced back impressively in the second game with a decisive victory but faltered again in Game 3, which now places them behind in the series.
This rollercoaster of performances isn’t what the Thunder, the top-seeded team in these playoffs, envisioned, especially at such a critical stage. However, there is a silver lining for them. This isn’t their first time encountering such a setback. In past matches, they’ve proven their ability to overcome adversity.
On Wednesday night, the Pacers clinched the win with a 116-107 scoreline in Indianapolis, granting them a 2-1 lead in the finals. Looking ahead to Game 4 in Indianapolis this Friday, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault remains optimistic. “I thought it was an uncharacteristic night in a lot of ways for us. We 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,” Daigneault stated.
Game 3 saw the Thunder stray from their typical gameplay. They squandered a fourth-quarter lead for the second time in this series, conceded 21 points due to turnovers, and allowed the Pacers’ bench players to have a significant impact, outscoring the Thunder’s reserves 49-18. Coach Daigneault added, “We’ll watch it. It wasn’t all bad. But we definitely have to play our style and impose our will for more of the 48 minutes if we want to come on the road and get a win.”
The Thunder’s ongoing battle resembles their journey during the Western Conference semifinals against Denver. In both series, Oklahoma City lost Game 1 to a last-second shot and bounced back with a solid win in Game 2. Game 3 in both scenarios found them on the road and ultimately falling behind in the series.
Back then, the Thunder managed to overcome the deficit against the Nuggets, and a similar turnaround is what’s needed now as they vie for the coveted NBA title. Thunder forward Chet Holmgren advises, “I wouldn’t say that now is the time for emotions, to be thinking about how you’re feeling, emotional this, emotional that. You kind of have to cut that out and look at the substance of what it is. We have a great opportunity here and the great thing is we have another game coming up, Game 4.”