At 2,30:XNUMX a.m., Indiana will host the fourth game of the NBA Finals series against favored Oklahoma.
Indiana leads the series 2:1, because after a break on the floor of the best team in the regular season, they suffered a convincing defeat, but managed to inflict a defeat on the Thunder in the first duel at home.
How?!
At first glance, the difference was made by the great play of Indiana's "bench", Benedict Maturin was the most efficient with 27 points and Timothy John McConnell had 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
But that's how it seems at first glance, ESPN published an analysis according to which Indiana coach Rick Carlisle won the game.
And with an unprecedented defense!
According to "GeniusIQ", Oklahoma City's star and league MVP, Shai Gilges-Alexander, was attacked about 20 meters from the basket, and he had never encountered that type of defense before. Not during the playoffs, but not in the regular season of the NBA.
Because of this, he passed the ball into the opponent's half just 23 times, which is his second-worst result in the knockout stage.
In addition, Indiana double-teamed him 12 times, a trap that uses two players high in the zone to force him to pass the ball. According to ESPN Research, that's the most in a playoff game in the great Canadian's career.
In Game 3, Gilges-Alexander scored 24 points, shooting just nine of 20 from the field and five of six from the line.
He had eight rebounds and four assists with a whopping six turnovers.
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