Tyrese Haliburton addressed Indiana’s 111-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. The Pacers fell behind late and lost a key home game, evening the series at 2-2.
Haliburton said he needed to improve his play in the fourth quarter, where he recorded just one assist after tallying 20 in the first three quarters. “I got to do a better job of keeping pace in the game,” he said. He noted the team struggled with fouls and lacked pace down the stretch. “We got to do a better job of when we do get stops getting out and running.”
Despite leading by four points with three minutes left, Haliburton admitted frustration with the loss. “You want to win that game, especially a game at home where you have to lead late,” he said. “But that’s just not how the cookie crumbled today.”
The Pacers’ defense managed to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander early, holding him without an assist and forcing tough shots. Haliburton credited his teammates for mixing defensive looks but acknowledged the Thunder’s star still scored 35 points. “He’s a tough cover,” he said. “We just got to collectively keep making it hard on them.”
Haliburton emphasized the importance of resilience as the series heads back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. “Every game is different. You just got to be able to respond when your back’s against the wall, and that’s where we are right now,” he said. “This group has been resilient all year, and I wouldn’t want to go to war with any other group.”
Indiana’s offense struggled in the fourth quarter, getting outscored 31-17 as the Thunder rallied. Haliburton pointed to the Thunder’s switch to a small, four-guard lineup, which slowed the Pacers’ ball movement. “That got us stagnant there,” he said, adding that missed opportunities and tough defensive pressure played a role.
Reflecting on a moment of emotion earlier in the game, Haliburton discussed his celebration after making a free throw. “That was my first free throw of the series, so just was excited about that,” he explained. He stressed the need to keep attacking the paint. “The paint is our friend. We can play from the inside out the better we are.”
The Pacers now face a hostile environment in Game 5 on Monday, where a win is critical. Haliburton promised to review film and prepare for the challenge. “We got a couple days to sit on this, watch film, see where we can get better, and be ready to go,” he said.
