Fans Go Off on Controversial Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Bucket Late in Game 4 Win

One of SGA's closing buckets drew ire from Pacers fans.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have tied up the NBA Finals 2-2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have tied up the NBA Finals 2-2. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder rode a 31-17 fourth quarter run to capture Game 4 of the NBA Finals 111-104 over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The series is now tied at two games apiece with Game 5 heading back to Oklahoma City.

As the Thunder made their late run, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was right at the center of it. He made a couple of contested shots in a row to propel the Thunder in their late run. One of those plays has drawn plenty of ire from Pacers fans, who assert that SGA at the very least pushed off of Pacers wing Andrew Nembhard. Some others said that Gilgeous-Alexander traveled.

Here's the play:

The reactions went as expected:

One push-off doesn't dictate the outcome of a game, but this one is going to sting for Pacers fans.

Game 5 is Monday night.


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Mike McDaniel
MIKE MCDANIEL

Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.