Thunder in finding themselves in acquainted territory in NBA Finals, trailing 2-1 in any other collection

INDIANAPOLIS — Game 1, a loss at the opposition’s ultimate shot. Game 2, a very easy win. Game 3, any other loss to fall in the back of within the collection once more.

This formulation isn’t the one who can be thought to be optimum via the Oklahoma City Thunder, particularly within the NBA Finals. But if there may be some comfort for the total No. 1 seed in those playoffs, it’s this: the Thunder were on this actual spot sooner than and located a technique to succeed.

That resiliency might be examined over again, after the Indiana Pacers beat the Thunder 116-107 on Wednesday evening to take a 2-1 collection lead in those finals. Game 4 is in Indianapolis on Friday evening.

“I thought it was an uncharacteristic night in a lot of ways for us,” Thunder trainer Mark Daigneault mentioned. “We got to learn from it and then tap back into being who we are in Game 4. If we do that, I think we’ll have a much better chance to win.”

It was once no longer very Thunder-like in Game 3. They blew a fourth quarter lead for the second one time within the collection, gave up 21 issues off turnovers and let the Pacers’ bench run wild — outscoring the OKC reserves 49-18.

“We’ll watch it. It wasn’t all bad,” Daigneault mentioned. “But we definitely have to play our style and impose our will for more of the 48 minutes if we want to come on the road and get a win.”

There are uncanny similarities between the primary 3 video games of this collection and the primary 3 video games of the Western Conference semifinal matchup between Oklahoma City and Denver.

— In Game 1 of the West semifinals, Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with about 3 seconds left to provide the Nuggets a win in Oklahoma City. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to provide the Pacers a win in Oklahoma City.

— In Game 2 of the West semifinals, the Thunder evened issues up with a very easy win. In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Thunder evened issues up with a very easy win.

— In Game 3 of the West semifinals, Denver — at house for the primary time in that collection — performed from in the back of lots of the evening sooner than combating into time beyond regulation and ultimately getting a win for a 2-1 collection lead. In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Indiana — at house for the primary time within the collection — trailed for a lot of the primary part sooner than ultimately getting a win for a 2-1 collection lead.

The Thunder dug their manner out of that hollow towards the Nuggets. And now, the similar activity awaits — with an NBA name at stake.

“I wouldn’t say that now is the time for emotions, to be thinking about how you’re feeling, emotional this, emotional that,” Thunder ahead Chet Holmgren mentioned. “You kind of have to cut that out and look at the substance of what it is. We have a great opportunity here and the great thing is we have another game coming up, Game 4.”