Lu Dort and Tyrese Haliburton Tangle in Fiery Game 4 of NBA Finals

Game 4 Drama: Dort and Haliburton Tangle in Intense NBA Finals Clash

During Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, a heated moment erupted. Lu Dort and Tyrese Haliburton got tangled up in a physical confrontation that quickly went viral. The incident occurred with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter. Indiana was holding a slim 25-24 lead.

The June 13 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is pivotal: the Pacers entered the night leading the series 2-1, meaning a win means they have a commanding 3-1 advantage. Meanwhile, a Thunder victory would level the series. As the tension mounted early, the altercation between Dort and Haliburton lit up social media. As a result, fanbases and analysts have been taking sides.

Inside the Incident: What Happened?

The altercation occurred near the free-throw line. Dort appeared to throw a stiff-arm or elbow toward Haliburton, who flailed and stumbled backward. From one angle, it looked like a flagrant foul; from another, it appeared Haliburton may have flopped. Broadcast replays were inconclusive, but the moment immediately became one of the most talked-about sequences of the Finals.

Interestingly, the commentary over the clip included a reference to Jason Terry and Rick Carlisle’s 2011 Mavericks—perhaps drawing parallels to team toughness or playoff resilience. Another mention of Arizona players, though unrelated directly to Haliburton or Dort, added context to the discussion about NCAA player pipelines in the NBA.

Fan Reactions: Split Down the Middle

Social media erupted in the wake of the play:

• @TruckBon: “Elbowed him in the face and fully extended the arm while all 3 refs stare at it and don’t do shit.”
• @PrizePicks: “Psychological and physical dorture.”
• @notconnorb_: “Dort is the dirtiest player in the league.”
• @BarrettsGoat: “Flopping on a free throw attempt is wild.”
• @Hero_OfThe_Day: “Fear not Shai Gilgeous!! Unhand that man Tyrese!!”

While Thunder fans praised Dort’s intensity, Pacers fans called for a flagrant or ejection. The incident joins a long list of NBA Finals flare-ups that fans love to dissect and debate.

The Broader Game 4 Context

As of 10:42 PM EDT on June 13, 2025, the game is close and still ongoing. So, the official scores had not yet been posted. Entering the game, the Pacers held a 2-1 series lead. The stakes were sky-high and still are:

• Pacers: 89.0 PPG, 32.8 RPG, 20.3 APG in the series
• Thunder: 88.8 PPG, 31.8 RPG, 14.0 APG

Key Players Before Game 4:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 24.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.8 APG
• Tyrese Haliburton (IND): 14.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.3 APG

With the series’ momentum on the line, every foul, no-call, and confrontation matters—especially when it involves a defensive specialist like Dort and Indiana’s franchise cornerstone in Haliburton.

What It Means for the Series

The Finals have already featured multiple physical plays, but this incident was among the most visible flashpoints. If Game 4 results in a Pacers win, they now sit on the cusp of a championship. If the Thunder pull off the road victory, it signals a shift in momentum as the series returns to Oklahoma City.

The league had not yet issued any disciplinary statements on the play as of publication. But fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the incident becomes a rallying point for either team—or if it’s buried beneath the weight of what’s next.

Historical Comparisons and Physical Finals Legacy

Moments like this evoke memories of past NBA Finals rivalries and controversies—from Draymond Green’s skirmishes in the Warriors-Cavs era to Ron Artest’s infamous elbow in the 2012 Playoffs. What sets this incident apart is the ambiguity: was it truly malicious, or just Finals-level contact amplified by the moment?

For Lu Dort, known as one of the league’s toughest perimeter defenders, such moments are not uncommon. But it adds fuel to the fire in a series already known for its defensive slugfests. Haliburton, meanwhile, has been under the microscope as Indiana’s emerging star. His response—whether viewed as dramatic or justified—puts added pressure on him to deliver in the coming games.

Momentum, Mind Games, and the Road Ahead

These types of physical confrontations can set the tone for future games. If Dort’s action was intentional, it could be part of a larger strategy to disrupt Indiana’s flow, frustrate Haliburton, or bait a retaliatory technical. Conversely, if Haliburton exaggerated contact, it might be a calculated move to draw whistles and shift the officiating narrative.

However, the moment led to more discussion among fans than it did action on the court. The game continued to play out, as the momentum has continued to shift within the game. Meanwhile, the choppiness between Lu Dort and Tyrese Haliburton has continued.

In either case, both players are now on notice. Expect closer monitoring from referees and potentially tighter whistles. The psychological element of Finals basketball is often overlooked, but momentum doesn’t just live in fast breaks and buzzer-beaters—it lives in small moments like this.

Conclusion

The altercation between Lu Dort and Tyrese Haliburton in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals encapsulates the raw intensity and stakes of championship basketball. With fans divided on whether Dort’s actions were dirty or Haliburton’s response theatrical, the moment has only intensified the emotional charge surrounding the series.

For different reasons that wind up being the same, both teams need this win. Ultimately, it is so both teams can win the championship. Indiana stands the chance to get the 3-1 lead that will leave them one win from the title. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City needs this win to tie the series 2-2, going back home with a chance to go up 3-2. Then, in the case of both cities, it would be their first-ever NBA championship.

As the Finals march toward a conclusion, plays like this won’t just shape the scoreboard—they’ll shape the narrative of who wanted it more. With the Pacers eyeing a title and the Thunder clawing for survival, every skirmish becomes symbolic—and every replay, a potential legacy-defining moment.