Barkley Hails Daigneault’s Bold Game 4 Lineup Change as Thunder Outmuscle Pacers

Charles Barkley praises Thunder coach after gutsy decision turns tide in Game 4

Sometimes, it just takes one brave call to flip a playoff series on its head. And for Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, that moment came in Game 4 of their tightly contested series against the Indiana Pacers. In a move that NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley called “a game-changer,” Daigneault tweaked his starting lineup — and it made all the difference.

On the heels of a frustrating Game 3 defeat and with the series on the line, Daigneault opted to start not just his usual seven-foot unicorn Chet Holmgren, but also added another big man in Isaiah Hartenstein to the mix. It was a bold pivot from the smaller lineups the Thunder had leaned on through the first three games. And it worked like a charm.

The Big Switch: Holmgren and Hartenstein Take Control

Charles Barkley calls Thunder coach’s Game 4 move a game-changer vs. Pacers

The result? A 111–104 win for the Thunder on the road, evening the series at 2–2 and swinging momentum back in their favor as they head home for Game 5.

“You’ve got to give the coach a lot of credit,” said Barkley during NBA TV’s postgame coverage. “It’s hard to admit you were wrong. That was a gutsy call and it turned the whole game around.”

Indeed, through Games 1 to 3, Holmgren had started at the five in a Thunder lineup that favoured speed and spacing. But in practice, that approach left OKC vulnerable in the paint. The Pacers, led by the physicality of Myles Turner and the rebounding tenacity of Pascal Siakam, were winning the battle inside — and winning games because of it.

By Game 4, something had to give. Daigneault’s answer? Get bigger.

The insertion of Hartenstein alongside Holmgren gave Oklahoma City a twin-tower look that allowed them to control the glass, clog the lane, and limit the second-chance opportunities that Indiana had feasted on earlier in the series. The Thunder won the battle of the boards 47–38 and held the Pacers to just 36 points in the paint — their lowest of the series.

Barkley: “That Decision Changed Everything”

Charles Barkley Calls Out Thunder’s Mark Daigneault For Major Decision During NBA Finals

Barkley, never one to hold back with his analysis, singled out the tactical shift as the moment the series turned.

“That decision impacted the points in the paint, offensive rebounds — all the stuff that really matters in playoff basketball,” Barkley said. “They were playing that small lineup before, and Chet was getting bullied. He’s a great player, but he needed help down there. Putting Hartenstein in gave them some muscle, and now they’re the ones pushing Indiana around.”

It was a classic playoff adjustment — recognising what isn’t working, swallowing some pride, and making a change. That Daigneault, one of the youngest head coaches in the NBA, was willing to shake things up under pressure spoke volumes about his confidence and adaptability.

And his players responded.

Holmgren looked far more comfortable with Hartenstein next to him, free to roam defensively and stretch the floor offensively. Meanwhile, Hartenstein did the dirty work — boxing out, setting bruising screens, and keeping Indiana honest in the paint.

A Gritty Road Win and a Series Reborn

With the series tied and the Thunder heading back to Oklahoma City for Game 5, this feels like a reset — and OKC have their coach to thank for it.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the charge with 29 points, while Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey chipped in with timely buckets. But this win wasn’t about flashy scoring or highlight reels. It was about muscle, about effort, and about seizing control of the interior.

The Thunder outscored the Pacers 52–36 in the paint and posted a +9 margin in second-chance points. It was a gritty, physical performance — the kind of basketball that wins playoff games deep into a series.

“This was a real team win,” Daigneault said postgame. “We made some adjustments, sure, but it came down to execution and effort. The guys bought in and delivered.”

Thunder Rolling Home with Confidence

Game 5 now looms large on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, and the Thunder will head into that matchup with wind in their sails and belief in their game plan. A young team with talent, chemistry, and now a dose of postseason adversity under their belt — it’s a dangerous combination.

Indiana, to their credit, won’t go quietly. Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points and 11 assists in Game 4 and continues to be the engine for everything the Pacers do. But after watching their interior advantage evaporate on Sunday night, they’ll have questions of their own to answer.

How do they combat Oklahoma City’s newfound size? Do they adjust their own lineup, or try to exploit mismatches in transition and on the perimeter? These are the dilemmas that make playoff basketball so compelling.

Barkley’s Respect for Daigneault Grows

It’s not every day Charles Barkley goes out of his way to praise a coach — especially a young one still carving out his place in the league. But Daigneault earned that praise the hard way.

“He made the right call at the right time,” Barkley said. “That’s what good coaches do. They don’t wait for the series to slip away. They act.”

For a franchise that hasn’t seen the second round since the Kevin Durant era, the Thunder’s evolution under Daigneault has been impressive. They’re smart, unselfish, and increasingly resilient — qualities that tend to serve teams well in May and June.

Whether or not this group can make a real run remains to be seen. But for one night, at least, they looked like a team that’s figuring it out — and a coach who knows exactly how to pull the strings.

Game 5 is up next. The series is tied. The pressure’s mounting. But thanks to a well-timed tweak from the bench, the Thunder now hold the upper hand.

And they have Charles Barkley’s stamp of approval to prove it.