INDIANAPOLIS — After a gut-wrenching Game 4 loss to the Thunder, the Indiana Pacers find themselves at a pivotal moment in the NBA Finals. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton characterized the defeat, where the team squandered a fourth-quarter lead, as profoundly frustrating, but remains steadfastly confident as the series shifts to Oklahoma City with everything on the line.

"As a team, you have to be ready to respond," Haliburton declared following the 111-104 defeat. "We need to embrace this challenge and dig deep. Our backs are against the wall, and that’s an opportunity for us to show our resilience."

The fourth quarter was a nightmare for the Pacers, who were outscored 31-17. After leading 103-99 with just over three minutes left, the Thunder's aggressive defense stifled Indiana, preventing them from scoring again. The only point in the final stretch was a free throw by Bennedict Mathurin, who struggled at the line, missing three crucial attempts.

Coach Rick Carlisle expressed his frustrations, pinpointing missed rebounds and critical failures to stop Oklahoma City's offensive momentum. He commended the Thunder for making life difficult, acknowledging they executed their game plan with precision.

Looking forward, Haliburton is eager to embrace the rigors of Game 5. "We have to be mentally prepared for a hostile environment," he said. "Winning there is crucial if we want to stay alive. We’ve got a couple of days to analyze our performance and improve. I’m ready to tackle the challenge head-on."

Despite the loss, the Pacers displayed commendable teamwork throughout the game, with five players scoring in double digits and others chipping in effectively. Haliburton posted 18 points and 7 assists, while Pascal Siakam contributed an impressive 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals.

The Pacers built a comfortable lead, peaking at ten points late in the third quarter, and entered the fourth ahead for the first time this series. Yet, they couldn't withstand the Thunder's late-game surge, particularly from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who, despite a quiet assist night, torched the Pacers for 35 points.

Andrew Nembhard acknowledged the challenge of facing an MVP-caliber player like Gilgeous-Alexander, stating, "We did our best to make it tough for him. We wanted to be relentless defensively."

Leading into the Finals, Carlisle emphasized the need for mental endurance throughout this seven-game series, reinforcing that the path would be arduous but rewarding.

"This journey is challenging and full of ups and downs," he remarked. "This was a low point, but we have multiple games left to prove ourselves. We must return more focused and ready to fight on Monday."