The atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse was tense during Game 4 of the NBA Finals as the Indiana Pacers squared off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yet amid the on-court drama, a sideline moment involving ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith playing Solitaire on his phone drew nearly as much attention as a last-second shot would.
This moment became a mocking jab at “First Things First” as Nick Wright shared his take on it. From a media-critique standpoint, the incident highlights the challenges of the digital era. Every action is subject to scrutiny, and any perceived lapse can trend globally within minutes.
Stephen A. Smith’s Viral Solitaire Moment Becomes Nick Wright’s Food for Joke
In a media moment that felt straight out of a sitcom, Wright’s response on “First Things First” was both humorous and calculated. Opening the show, he pretended to be so engrossed in his phone that he “didn’t know we were [starting the show], my bad.”
Then, flashing a mock-serious glare, Wright delivered the line: “What, a guy can’t multitask?! I can’t multitask?!”
Nick Wright has Solitaire jokes to start Monday’s edition of ‘First Things First’ on FS1.
“Solitaire, no good… A guy can’t multitask?!” https://t.co/x3UIoRhq7I pic.twitter.com/7BdOjuqxjA
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2025
Co-host Kevin Wildes feigned disapproval, “I don’t approve of this,” while Chris Broussard’s incredulous “Oh, wow. Oh, wow!” added to the comic tone. The bit highlighted how easily viral moments from rival networks can be repurposed for humor, driving viewership and engagement through cross-network banter.
The controversy traces back to Game 4, when Smith was spotted playing Solitaire on his phone during live action. A fan-captured image and video clips went viral on social media, prompting NBA stars and analysts to chime in.
Kevin Durant’s terse “C’mon Steve” reaction, as per The U.S. Sun, added fuel to the fire, while many fans questioned whether Smith’s attention wandered at the cost of his analytical duties.
Yep! That’s me. Who would’ve thought….I can multi-task. Especially during TIMEOUTS! Hope y’all are enjoying the NBA Finals.
This is going 7 games now, peeps! https://t.co/nLdWJf5vqf
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 14, 2025
Smith responded he was merely multitasking during a timeout, sharing a social media post claiming, “Yep! That’s me. Who would’ve thought….I can multi-task. Especially during TIMEOUTS! Hope y’all are enjoying the NBA Finals. This is going 7 games now, peeps!” Wright’s playful jab further proved that in today’s 24/7 sports landscape, even downtime can become front-page fodder.
Thunder Takes Away Game 4 Win
Game 4 unfolded as a tale of two halves. Indiana held the advantage in each of the three quarters, courtesy of an all-around performance from Pascal Siakam (20 points) and Tyrese Haliburton (18 points).
But, Oklahoma City’s resilience was on display in the final minutes as they flipped the script. Specifically, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped in 35 points to go with three rebounds and snatched three steals. Jalen Williams added 27 points, and Alex Caruso chipped in 20 points off the bench. Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren grabbed a double-double with 14 points and 15 boards.
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The Pacers battled hard but came up short with missed chances late. In fact, the pivotal free throws by Bennedict Mathurin came in too late and couldn’t help turn the tide in their favor. Oklahoma City won Game 111-104.
The teams were tied 2-2, with a Game 5 on Monday. The Pacers were determined to win this one, but fell again. The Oklahoma City Thunder closed out the Indiana Pacers 120-109, taking a series lead of 3-2.
