OKC vs Pacers Game 4 Will a Title Decider? Hall of Famer and NBA Analyst Pin Points Importance of Game at Gainbridge Arena
The Indiana Pacers broke their ‘Game 3’ losing run in the 2024-25 NBA postseason. The side lost to the Knicks, Cavs and Bucks in game 3s, irrespective of the venue. Interestingly enough, they still had a 2-1 lead in those series and advanced to the next round within 5 or six games. The 2025 NBA Finals are not different. The Pacers have a 2-1 lead against the Thunder and a calming feeling entering game 4. NBA analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley now puts his finger on the OKC vs Pacers Game 4 as ‘D Day’ for the series and ultimately the 2025 NBA Champion to be decided.
Talking on ESPN’s show, Charles Barkley mentioned the importance of winning Game 4 for both organizations, as it could decide the final winner as well. Right now, the Pacers might have an edge, but the season’s best performing team, OKC, are still the favorites to turn things around. Barley noted that the ‘chance to play in the finals’ might not come often in a player’s career, and they should make the most of it.
“Friday night is D-Day. That’s their season. If they get down 3-1, they’re not gonna win this series. Now, if they get it to 2-2, they go back to being the favorite. But Friday night is their game. And you know, a lot of people, you don’t get to go to the finals and say, we’re gonna get back the next year. Look at the Boston Celtics. They probably want to break that team up. Think about it, remember they had KD, Russ, and James. They never got back to the finals again.”
In the last seven seasons, fans have got to see different opponents in the finals, with only the Warriors, Heat and Celtics reaching the stage twice. In 2025, the Pacers broke their 25-year wait for the NBA Finals while the OKC side waited 12 years for their moment.
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While Barley termed the game day as ‘D-Day’, the original D-Day, June 6, 1944, is when U.S. and allied troops stormed Normandy Beach in France and, against tremendous odds, gained ground against the Germans, turning the tide of World War II. Maybe Barkley wanted to pump up OKC to put up a challenge in the NBA Finals.
Pressure is Now on Thunder in OKC vs Pacers NBA Finals 2025 Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might have delivered some of the magical moments for the OKC this season, winning the MVP award (third player in franchise’s history), but he couldn’t deliver in Game 3. The star guard and OKC’s leading scorer took responsibility for the loss during the postgame conference and admitted that the Pacers were the “more aggressive, more forceful” squad, particularly down the stretch. Preparing for Game 4, SGA mentioned that they need to address the same and play more aggressively.
“It starts with me, but we gotta apply that pressure back,” SGA said about how his team has to adjust. While Barkley has put a pin on the OKC vs Pacers Game 4 as the title decider, the players are not feeling the heat as per their post-game interviews.
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