SGA turns the tide, Thunder drags Pacers into the "War of Heavenly Kings Mountain"

Canadian star Shea Gilgers-Alexander (SGA) scored 35 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Indiana Pacers at the end of the game to tie the NBA Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder withstood the pressure in Indianapolis and tied the finals 2-2.

At noon on June 14, the Thunder won 111-104 at the Gainbridge Arena in Indianapolis, tied the seven-game four-win series record to 2-2.

They were 7 points behind before the start of the fourth quarter, but turned the defeat to win with a score of 31-17 in the last quarter and scored a 12-1 "small climax" in the last three minutes.

"I know what it would be like if we lost today," SGA said. "I don't want to fall without fighting spirit."

Thunder head coach Mark Degenauer gave the season's Most Valuable Player (MVP) SGA a break at the end of the third quarter, rather than resting in the early fourth quarter as usual.

Shay Gilgers-Alexander scored a shot in the final quarter of the game. With less than 4 minutes left in the game, the Pacers still led 101-97, but SGA scored 15 of the Thunder's last 16 points and hit all 10 free throws at the end of the game.

Jaylen Williams scored 27 points and 7 rebounds for the Thunder, and Alex Caruso, who came on the bench, contributed 20 points; Pascal Siakam scored the Pacers' highest score of 20 points, and Tyres Halliburton scored 18 points.

"We did not play as well in the final stage of the game." Siakam, who has championship experience, said, "We did not have easy shooting opportunities. We missed all the easy shooting opportunities we got. But they made the shots."

The Thunder will usher in the fifth game of the Finals at home at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on the morning of June 17, the so-called "Battle of Kings Mountain".

Nanjing Daily/Zhuangshan News Editor Zhou Zhe