Something shifted in Game 3, something subtle at first, then undeniable. The Oklahoma City Thunder were rolling, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was cooking, and then… he wasn’t. The fourth quarter became a blur of rushed shots, tired legs, and a creeping realization: Indiana had cracked the code.

NBA legend Magic Johnson saw it unfold in real time: “The Pacers’ full-court pressure defense wore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander down, and that’s a big reason why the NBA MVP wasn’t effective in the fourth quarter!” The Hall of Famer wasn’t just stating the obvious—he was highlighting Indiana’s masterstroke.

Here’s how they did it: The Pacers’ guards—Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith—turned into human shadows, hounding SGA baseline-to-baseline from the moment he inbounded the ball. Every pick-and-roll became a trap. Every possession became a marathon. The result? A 24-point, 8-rebound, 4-assist stat line for SGA that somehow felt hollow, because when it mattered most, the MVP had nothing left.

The numbers tell the story: OKC managed just 18 fourth-quarter points to Indiana’s 32. The Thunder’s late-game offense—usually SGA’s personal showcase—became a slog of forced shots and turnovers. And now, with the series flipped to 2-1 Pacers, Oklahoma City faces an arduous question: How do you beat a team that’s figured out how to exhaust your best player before the final buzzer?

Indiana didn’t just win Game 3—they planted a seed of doubt. And in the NBA Finals, that’s often enough to change everything.

Can the Thunder Crack Indiana’s Code?

The Thunders just got a rude awakening in Game 3, and now they’re staring down history’s harsh reality: win Game 4, or watch an 80% championship probability become someone else’s confetti. But don’t count them out yet. Here’s how they can turn this around without working SGA into the ground.

First things first: OKC needs to stop treating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander like a one-man show. Yes, he dropped a ridiculous 72 points in the first two game (because apparently modern defenses are just suggestions to him). But Indiana’s guards just turned Game 3 into a 48-minute treadmill session for the MVP. Maybe—just maybe—it’s time to let Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams do more than spectate. A radical concept, we know.

Then there’s the spacing issue. Right now, Indiana’s traps are hitting SGA like rush-hour traffic—unavoidable and exhausting. The solution? Move the ball. Quick passes, smart cuts, and maybe let Chet Holmgren flex those point-center skills he’s been hiding. Magic Johnson’s built a career on finding the open man; OKC might want to take notes.

And about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth-quarter vanishing act… 3 points on 1 for 3 shooting and a -11 net rating in the 10 minutes he played during the fourth—maybe don’t let your best player enter crunch time looking like he just ran a marathon? A novel idea. Strategic rest, smarter rotations, whatever it takes—because a tired MVP is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine when the game’s on the line.

Like Shai said postgame, “They were aggressive. They were high on the pick-and-rolls, they really were, like the coach said, more aggressive, more forceful.” That aggression translated into 19 Thunder turnovers—costly mistakes the Pacers turned into 21 points. Add in a +7 edge in fast break points and +6 in second-chance opportunities, and the margins tell a deeper story than the box score alone.

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned this postseason, it’s that you can’t count out the Thunder—especially SGA. They’ve been here before. Down 2-1 to Denver, on the road, and responded like contenders. “It starts with me, but we gotta apply that pressure back,” Shai said, taking accountability like a true MVP.

For what it’s worth, OKC still hasn’t lost back-to-back games in the playoffs. Translation? As SGA put it best: “Learn from your mistakes, rest, recovery. Do everything we can to be a better basketball team next game.” Bet on them coming out swinging.