Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers had a golden opportunity in front of them, but squandered it Friday night.
The Pacers could’ve taken a 3-1 lead and been one game from winning the franchise’s first title, but instead lost 111-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in front of their home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Haliburton had 18 points and seven assists for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin were limited to just eight points each in Game 4. Mathurin had scored 27 points in Game 3.
Meanwhile, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had struggled in the first three quarters, scored 15 of Oklahoma City's final 16 points as the Thunder overcame a seven-point deficit in the final frame.
Charles Barkley didn’t hold back while talking about the Pacers.
"No. 1, they gave it away," Barkley said on NBA TV. "I thought you saw the difference between All-Stars guys and really good players and superstars. Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) brought this thing home.”
Pascal Siakam led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but Barkley felt he could've done more for Indiana.
“I have no idea what the Pacers were doing on the offensive end,” Barkley said. “Me and Grant (Hill) were going crazy like, 'Yo man, get it to (Pascal) Siakam, he's your best 1-on-1 player. They didn't even run a play for him ... It was so frustrating. Grant, we can say all we want to about Oklahoma City — the Pacers blew this game."