In a whistle-heavy Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder leveled the series against the Indiana Pacers with a victory marked by 53 fouls, including two flagrant and two technical fouls. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a pivotal role, scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter, including making eight trips to the free-throw line. Coach Rick Carlisle defended the officiating, particularly crew chief Scott Foster, criticizing the unfair scrutiny directed at him. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault attributed the high foul count to the teams' aggressive play rather than the referees' decisions. The physicality of the game resulted in both teams shooting a significant number of free throws as they battled for control on the court.