Pat McAfee brutally shades ESPN rival Stephen A. Smith in quick promo during Thunder-Pacers Game

Pat McAfee riled up the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers. McAfee, an Indianapolis Colts great, blasted the narrative about the Thunder still being the favorites to win the championship despite facing a 1-2 deficit. The former NFL star took a shot at bookies and at rival Stephen A. Smith for favoring OKC.

McAfee did not hold back in his fiery appearance to jolt the home fans (via Scott Agness).

“Coming into tonight’s game, Oklahoma City was favored by 6.5 points. That makes us the biggest underdogs in the history of the NBA Finals! The sportsbooks don’t know, Stephen A. Smith doesn’t know that when you come to this state, not only do you play the best team in the damn league, you’re also taking on the greatest fan base in the history of sports!”

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Heading into the playoffs, Stephen A. Smith gave reasons on NBA Countdown why the OKC Thunder "have no excuse not to win the NBA championship." The First Take host rattled off the impressive numbers OKC put up in the regular season to become the heavy title favorites. Smith added that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who won the MVP, gave the Thunder an edge over most teams.

Meanwhile, Pat McAfee's Indiana Pacers have become the Cinderella story in the 2025 NBA playoffs. The team has relied on grit, teamwork and a never-say-die attitude that have put them two wins away from its first NBA championship. McAfee is convinced the bookies and Smith got their predictions wrong.

Pat McAfee's fiery intermission could not prevent a Pacers loss

The brief but fiery intermission from Pat McAfee ignited the home fans, who felt comfortable watching their team in close games. Indiana has made come-from-behind wins its trademark in the playoffs, making Friday's late Game 4 lead to its liking.

Amid a rocking Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the OKC Thunder kept their composure. Oklahoma buckled down on defense, limiting the Pacers to 17 fourth-quarter points.

Following Pat McAfee's engagement with the fans, the Thunder strung three straight points to tie the game at 89-89 with 8:13 left. The Pacers kept the driver's seat and extended its lead to 101-97 before OKC finished the game strong.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 of the Thunder's 14 points in the last 2:58 to drag his team to a 111-104 win.

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Michael Macasero

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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