Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats: What the Box Score Really Says

A Pacers vs Thunder box score can look like a wall of numbers. Points, rebounds, assists, shooting splits, turnovers, plus-minus, it’s easy to get lost and miss the one thing that decided the game.

This breakdown of Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder match player stats shows how to read the key lines quickly, spot the top performers, and compare the teams in ways that actually explain the result. You’ll get a simple “snapshot” view first, then the head-to-head battles that usually swing this matchup.

One quick note: stats change every game. The goal here isn’t a stat dump, it’s to show how the matchup gets decided when you look at the right numbers.

Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder player stats, quick box score snapshot

If you only have a minute, don’t start with individual points. Start with the team totals that shape everything else: shot quality, ball security, and extra possessions. The Pacers often try to win with pace, movement, and volume. The Thunder often win by creating efficient looks, forcing mistakes, and turning live-ball turnovers into easy points.

A clean way to scan the box score is to line up the core team stats side by side. Fill these in from the game you’re reviewing, then read the “why it matters” column like a map.

Team totals that usually tell the story (points, shooting, rebounds, turnovers)

Four team numbers explain most Pacers vs Thunder outcomes:

Shooting splits (FG%, 3PT%, FT%): Indiana can score in waves when the ball doesn’t stick and the corner threes fall. OKC can keep pace when it wins the paint touches and gets to the line. If one team has a clear edge at the stripe, it often shows up in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers: This is the silent killer. A turnover isn’t just an empty trip, it can be a leak-out dunk the other way. When the Thunder pile up steals, it usually means they’re shrinking driving lanes and jumping predictable passes.

Rebounds (especially offensive boards): Extra possessions can erase a cold shooting spell. If one team wins offensive rebounds, it can win while shooting worse, because it simply takes more shots.

Assists: A high assist count usually means the defense had to rotate, and someone got an open look. Low assists can mean heavy isolation or a defense that stayed in front.

Top performers at a glance, who led in points, assists, rebounds

For Indiana, most fans check Tyrese Haliburton first because his line shows whether the offense had rhythm. Look at points and assists together, then check turnovers. A 20-point, 12-assist night with low turnovers reads like a conductor leading a clean orchestra.

For Oklahoma City, start with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His scoring often comes with free throws and paint touches, so his field goals made versus attempts, plus free throw attempts, can hint at how the Pacers defended him.

Then scan the “big” lines. Myles Turner (Pacers) and Chet Holmgren (Thunder) can change the game without leading in points, because blocks and altered shots affect every drive.

If you want one simple efficiency stat, use true shooting percentage. It rolls field goals and free throws into one number, so it credits players who score a lot from the line.

Head to head player stat battles that decided the matchup

This matchup often feels like two different philosophies crashing into each other. Indiana wants to run and spray the ball around the arc. OKC wants to pressure the ball, collapse the paint at the right moments, then strike back with controlled aggression.

Instead of tracking every rotation player, focus on three battles: creators, bigs, and bench units. When those three swing one direction, the final score usually follows.

Star guards and wings, scoring, playmaking, and defense in one view

Start with the primary creators: Haliburton and the Pacers lead guards versus Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC’s top initiators (often Jalen Williams sharing creation duties).

Key box score checks that actually matter:

• Assists vs turnovers: If Indiana’s main ball-handler has high assists and low turnovers, the Pacers usually got clean entries into actions and punished help defense. If turnovers climb, OKC likely controlled the passing lanes and sped the Pacers up.
• Free throw attempts: SGA’s free throws can act like a steady paycheck when jumpers wobble. If his attempts are down, the Pacers probably kept a defender on his hip without reaching, and Turner helped at the rim without fouling.
• Shot mix: You can read shot selection from attempts. More rim attempts and free throws usually means pressure on the defense. More contested threes can mean the first option got cut off.

On defense, steals tell a story, but not the whole one. A low-steal night can still be great defense if the team forced late-clock shots. That’s why it helps to pair steals with opponent turnovers and opponent FG%.

Bigs and the paint, rebounds, rim protection, and second chance points

The frontcourt battle is where “quiet” stats get loud.

For Turner and Holmgren, check:

Blocks and fouls: A big can block shots, but foul trouble changes the whole chessboard. If a rim protector picks up early fouls, drivers suddenly attack with less fear, and the defense starts giving up layups or open kick-out threes.

Defensive rebounds: This matters more than it sounds. Stops only count when you finish the play. If OKC forces a miss but gives up an offensive rebound, it’s like locking a door and leaving the window open.

Points in the paint: If the Thunder win paint points without a big edge in offensive rebounds, it often means their guards got downhill. If the Pacers win paint points, it can mean better cuts and early offense before OKC’s defense is set.

Small-ball minutes show up here too. When one team downsizes, spacing often improves, but rebounding can slip. If you see a jump in opponent offensive rebounds during certain stretches, that’s usually the trade-off.

Bench impact and rotation wins, who swung the game when starters rested

Bench stats are where a close game gets separated.

Two numbers matter most:

Bench points: Obvious, but still useful. If one side’s bench scores in bunches, the starters get to rest without losing ground.

Plus-minus: This shows the score change while a player was on the floor. It’s not perfect, but it’s a quick way to spot which lineup segments won minutes.

In Pacers vs Thunder games, a single bench run often comes from one simple thing, a role player hits two threes, or a backup guard forces two turnovers that turn into fast break points. When you see a bench player with a modest point total but a strong plus-minus, it often means their defense or screening tilted the floor.

How to read Pacers vs Thunder match player stats like a pro (without overthinking it)

Box scores are like receipts. They show what happened, but not every detail of why. Still, you can get close if you keep it practical.

First, decide what style won: did the game tilt toward Indiana’s pace and passing, or OKC’s pressure and controlled shot diet? Then use a short checklist to confirm it.

4 quick stat checks, efficiency, turnovers, free throws, and rebounds

Use these four checks every time:

• Efficiency: Compare FG%, then check 3PT% and FT%. A team can survive a bad 3-point night if it dominates free throws.
• Turnover margin: Fewer turnovers usually means more shot attempts and fewer run-outs allowed.
• Free throw attempts: The team living at the line can win ugly, especially late.
• Offensive rebounds: Extra possessions can flip a game even when shots don’t fall.

If you only remember one idea, remember this: most winners either shoot better or get more chances.

Context that stats miss, pace, injuries, and late game possessions

Pace can inflate totals. A 125-point night might be great offense, or it might be 105 possessions with average efficiency. If both teams took a lot of shots, raw points won’t tell you much.

Rotations matter too. If a starter is out, or a big gets in foul trouble, matchups change and bench players get larger roles. Late-game possessions also deserve their own lens. A team can lead most of the night, then lose because it couldn’t protect the ball, rebound one miss, or get a clean shot in the final two minutes.

Conclusion

Pacers vs Thunder games usually swing on a few stat levers: shooting efficiency, turnovers that turn into easy points, and who controls the glass when legs get tired. The standout lines are often the ones that combine skills, like a creator’s points plus assists with low turnovers, or a big’s rebounds plus blocks without foul trouble.

Next time these teams meet, watch turnover margin, 3-point volume, and bench plus-minus first. Then check the box score with the four-point checklist and see if the numbers match what your eyes felt during the run that decided the game.