Indiana trailed by 16 points in the third quarter before cutting the Thunder's lead to only two points, although they got sloppy in the final minutes of the game, ultimately losing by 11. Tyrese Haliburton scored only four points and missed all six of his shots from the field.

Indiana deals for its 2026 first-round pick by sending New Orleans its pick in 2025 plus the rights to Mojave King.

Jalen Williams scored a tough contested floater to close the third quarter and extend OKC's lead to 87-79. The Thunder needed the bucket after a 13-point outburst from T.J. McConnell allowed the Pacers to eat into OKC's 14-point halftime lead.

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle offered an impassioned and somewhat unprompted defense of referee Scott Foster, evidently aware of mountains of online criticism.