INDIANAPOLIS — Recreation 1, a loss on the opposition’s remaining shot. Recreation 2, a straightforward win. Recreation 3, one other loss to fall behind within the collection once more.
This components will not be the one that will be thought of optimum by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, particularly within the NBA Finals. But when there’s some comfort for the general No. 1 seed in these playoffs, it’s this: the Thunder have been on this actual spot earlier than and located a method to prevail.
That resiliency might be examined but once more, after the Indiana Pacers beat the Thunder 116-107 on Wednesday evening to take a 2-1 collection lead in these finals. Recreation 4 is in Indianapolis on Friday evening.
“I assumed it was an uncharacteristic evening in numerous methods for us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “We bought to study from it after which faucet again into being who we’re in Recreation 4. If we do this, I believe we’ll have a significantly better likelihood to win.”
It was not very Thunder-like in Recreation 3. They blew a fourth quarter lead for the second time within the collection, gave up 21 factors off turnovers and let the Pacers’ bench run wild — outscoring the OKC reserves 49-18.
“We’ll watch it. It wasn’t all unhealthy,” Daigneault mentioned. “However we positively must play our fashion and impose our will for extra of the 48 minutes if we wish to come on the street and get a win.”
There are uncanny similarities between the primary three video games of this collection and the primary three video games of the Western Convention semifinal matchup between Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver.
— In Recreation 1 of the West semifinals, Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with about 3 seconds left to offer the Nuggets a win in Oklahoma Metropolis. In Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to offer the Pacers a win in Oklahoma Metropolis.
— In Recreation 2 of the West semifinals, the Thunder evened issues up with a straightforward win. In Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals, the Thunder evened issues up with a straightforward win.
— In Recreation 3 of the West semifinals, Denver — at house for the primary time in that collection — performed from behind many of the evening earlier than combating into additional time and ultimately getting a win for a 2-1 collection lead. In Recreation 3 of the NBA Finals, Indiana — at house for the primary time within the collection — trailed for a lot of the primary half earlier than ultimately getting a win for a 2-1 collection lead.
The Thunder dug their approach out of that gap in opposition to the Nuggets. And now, the identical process awaits — with an NBA title at stake.
“I wouldn’t say that now could be the time for feelings, to be interested by the way you’re feeling, emotional this, emotional that,” Thunder ahead Chet Holmgren mentioned. “You form of have to chop that out and take a look at the substance of what it’s. Now we have an important alternative right here and the nice factor is we’ve one other sport developing, Recreation 4.”
