Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Match Player Stats: Pacers Survive Shai’s 47-Point Display
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers match player stats reveal the full story behind Indiana’s dramatic 117–114 victory at the Paycom Center on 23 January 2026. The final score suggests a close contest, but the Pacers controlled most of the evening before surviving a powerful late response from the home side.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced an outstanding 47-point performance for Oklahoma City, while Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 13 rebounds. Indiana answered with a more balanced attack. Andrew Nembhard led the team with 27 points and 11 assists, while Jarace Walker scored 26 points. The Pacers also gained an important advantage through their three-point shooting, rebounding and ball movement. Those areas eventually made the difference when the game tightened in the final minute.
Pacers Make a Fast Start in Oklahoma City
Indiana entered the game with confidence and immediately attacked the Thunder defence. The visitors moved the ball quickly, found space around the three-point line and scored 39 points in the opening quarter.
Oklahoma City managed 28 points during the same period. The Thunder struggled to slow Indiana’s outside shooters, while several early defensive mistakes gave the Pacers clear scoring opportunities.
Indiana produced two separate 8–0 runs in the first quarter. These bursts allowed the Pacers to build a double-digit lead and place pressure on the home side much earlier than expected.
The Thunder began to respond in the second quarter, but Indiana continued to protect its advantage. Jarace Walker made two important three-pointers after Oklahoma City had reduced the gap to three.
At one stage, the Pacers led by 17 points. Oklahoma City then found its rhythm and ended the half with a strong 17–4 run. Cason Wallace provided energy during that spell, helping the Thunder cut Indiana’s lead to 58–53 at half-time.
The contest became more competitive after the break. Oklahoma City won the third quarter 32–31, but the Pacers continued to find answers whenever the Thunder threatened to take control.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Match Player Stats
The leading Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers match player stats show how differently the two teams created their points. Oklahoma City relied heavily on Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren, while Indiana received strong contributions from four starters.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Field Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 47 | 4 | 4 | 17–28 |
| Chet Holmgren | Thunder | 25 | 13 | 3 | 8–14 |
| Kenrich Williams | Thunder | 12 | 7 | 4 | 5–8 |
| Cason Wallace | Thunder | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3–7 |
| Andrew Nembhard | Pacers | 27 | 7 | 11 | 10–16 |
| Jarace Walker | Pacers | 26 | 4 | 3 | 8–15 |
| Pascal Siakam | Pacers | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9–20 |
| Aaron Nesmith | Pacers | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7–14 |
| Micah Potter | Pacers | 10 | 10 | 1 | 4–9 |
Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading scorer by a considerable distance. He made 17 of his 28 shots from the field and converted all 12 of his free throws.
His ability to score from different areas kept Oklahoma City alive. He attacked the basket, created space for mid-range shots and remained calm at the free-throw line. He also recorded four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
Holmgren gave him valuable support. The Thunder centre scored 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting and made two of his four three-point attempts. He also collected 13 defensive rebounds and registered three blocks.
The difficulty for Oklahoma City was finding enough scoring from the rest of the rotation. Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren combined for 72 of the Thunder’s 114 points.
Luguentz Dort scored only two points after making one of nine field-goal attempts. Isaiah Joe finished with seven points and missed all five of his three-point shots. Their struggles placed even more responsibility on Oklahoma City’s two leading scorers.
Andrew Nembhard Controls Indiana’s Offence
Andrew Nembhard delivered the most complete performance for Indiana. He finished with 27 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in 36 minutes.
Nembhard shot 10-of-16 from the field and made four of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. His efficiency helped the Pacers maintain their lead during periods when Oklahoma City increased its defensive pressure.
His passing was equally important. Indiana finished the game with 34 assists, and Nembhard was responsible for nearly one-third of them. He controlled the tempo and regularly created open chances for his teammates.
Jarace Walker provided another major scoring performance. He recorded 26 points in 31 minutes, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range.
Walker also played a decisive role in the closing seconds. Oklahoma City had cut the lead to one point, but Walker remained composed and converted four late free throws. Those shots protected Indiana’s narrow advantage.
Pascal Siakam added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. His ability to score, pass and operate around the paint gave Indiana another reliable option whenever the Thunder focused on Nembhard.
Aaron Nesmith contributed 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. He made three of his five three-point attempts and helped maintain the spacing that made Indiana’s offence difficult to contain.
Micah Potter was productive from the bench, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds. Four of his rebounds came at the offensive end, giving the Pacers additional possessions in a game eventually decided by three points.
Three-Point Shooting and Rebounding Decide the Contest
The wider Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers match player stats explain how Indiana overcame Oklahoma City’s better overall field-goal percentage.
The Thunder made 40 of their 82 field-goal attempts, shooting approximately 49 per cent. Indiana converted 45 of 96 attempts for around 47 per cent.
However, the three-point numbers strongly favoured the Pacers. Indiana made 16 of 38 three-point attempts, giving the team an impressive 42 per cent success rate.
Oklahoma City made only seven of 26 attempts from deep. That 27 per cent return prevented the Thunder from closing the gap earlier.
Indiana therefore scored 27 more points from the three-point line. Oklahoma City recovered part of that difference through free throws, making 27 of 30 attempts. Indiana converted only 11 of 20.
Rebounding also played an important role. The Pacers collected 51 rebounds, compared with 41 for the Thunder. Indiana’s 14 offensive rebounds were particularly valuable because they created fresh scoring opportunities.
Oklahoma City managed only four offensive boards. Although both teams recorded 37 defensive rebounds, Indiana’s greater activity around its attacking basket helped it control possession.
The Pacers also had 34 assists compared with Oklahoma City’s 18. That difference showed Indiana’s commitment to passing and shared attacking responsibility.
The Thunder protected the ball slightly better, committing nine turnovers compared with Indiana’s 10. Oklahoma City also registered eight blocks, while the Pacers produced only one. These advantages helped the Thunder stay close but could not cancel Indiana’s success from long range.
A Dramatic Finish at the Paycom Center
Indiana appeared to have the game under control when it led by 12 points with around five minutes remaining. The advantage was still 10 with just over two minutes on the clock.
The Thunder refused to accept defeat. Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren combined for a 9–0 run, bringing Oklahoma City within a single point with 24.3 seconds remaining.
The atmosphere changed quickly. Indiana had controlled almost the entire game, but suddenly one mistake could have handed the Thunder the lead.
Walker responded by making two free throws. After another Oklahoma City score, he returned to the line and converted two more. His calm finishing forced the Thunder to attempt a three-pointer on their final meaningful possession.
Isaiah Joe received the opportunity to send the match into overtime. His shot from beyond the arc missed with three seconds left, and Indiana held on for a 117–114 win.
The final moments demonstrated why NBA games cannot be judged by points alone. Oklahoma City’s stars produced enough offence to create a chance, but Indiana’s earlier rebounding, outside shooting and ball movement gave the visitors the small margin they needed.
What the Result Revealed About Both Teams
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers match player stats highlighted Indiana’s ability to win through balance. Four starters scored at least 17 points, while several players contributed as passers and rebounders.
Nembhard directed the offence, Walker provided timely scoring and Siakam brought control in difficult moments. Nesmith’s outside shooting and Potter’s rebounding strengthened the performance further.
Oklahoma City showed impressive fighting spirit. Gilgeous-Alexander carried a major scoring load without losing efficiency, while Holmgren influenced the game at both ends of the court.
However, the lack of consistent scoring from the supporting players became costly. When Indiana crowded the areas preferred by Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder did not always find a dependable alternative.
Both teams were also operating without important players. Oklahoma City’s missing group included Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell. Indiana remained without Tyrese Haliburton.
Those absences changed the normal rotations and gave additional responsibility to less established players. Indiana adapted more successfully, particularly through Walker and Potter.
Conclusion
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers match player stats show that Indiana’s team balance was strong enough to overcome an exceptional individual display from Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder star scored 47 points, and Holmgren delivered 25 points with 13 rebounds. However, Indiana created a wider spread of attacking threats through Nembhard, Walker, Siakam and Nesmith.
Better three-point shooting, 51 rebounds and 34 assists allowed the Pacers to control most of the game. Oklahoma City created late drama, but Indiana stayed calm when the pressure was at its highest and completed a hard-earned 117–114 victory.
(FAQs)
Who won the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers game?
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117–114 at the Paycom Center on 23 January 2026.
Who scored the most points in the match?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the game’s leading scorer with 47 points. He made 17 field goals and converted all 12 of his free throws.
Who was Indiana’s leading performer?
Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 27 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. He also made four three-pointers.
Which players recorded double-doubles?
Andrew Nembhard recorded 27 points and 11 assists. Chet Holmgren finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Micah Potter had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Why did Indiana win the game?
Indiana won because of its balanced scoring, accurate three-point shooting, superior rebounding and strong ball movement. The Pacers made 16 three-pointers and collected 34 assists.
How many points did Jarace Walker score?
Jarace Walker scored 26 points. He also made four important free throws during the closing seconds.
