Pacers Take Series Lead After Fourth-Quarter Domination in Game 3
The Pacers are proving they don’t stay down for long—and now, they lead the NBA Finals. On Wednesday night, Indiana bounced back from a Game 2 loss with a convincing 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in front of an electrified home crowd.
Bennedict Mathurin poured in 27 points off the bench, while Tyrese Haliburton nearly notched a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. With the win, Indiana improved to a perfect 10-0 in games following a loss since mid-March—evidence of a team built for resilience.
Bench Depth Proves Key as Indiana Outpaces OKC
Indiana’s bench outscored Oklahoma City’s reserves by a staggering 49-18. Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points, while TJ McConnell added 10 points, five assists, and five steals—marking a Finals first for that combination off the bench.
Coach Rick Carlisle praised the collective effort. “We need everybody ready,” he said. “This is how we’ve got to do it.” And they did—especially in the fourth quarter, when the Pacers flipped a five-point deficit into a game-clinching rally.
Thunder Struggles Continue in Fourth as Pacers Close Strong
Despite strong performances from Jalen Williams (26 points), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24), and Chet Holmgren (20), the Thunder faltered late. Indiana controlled the final quarter, outscoring OKC 32-18 and holding them to just 35% shooting when it mattered most.
The Thunder had been 61-2 in the regular season when leading after three quarters. In this series, they’re now 1-2. Indiana, meanwhile, fed off the home energy—hosting an NBA Finals game for the first time in 25 years—with legends like Reggie Miller and Oscar Robertson watching courtside.
Game 3 Win Puts Pacers in Commanding Position
History now leans Indiana’s way. In the 41 past NBA Finals tied 1-1, the Game 3 winner has claimed the championship 33 times—an 80.5% success rate.
The game itself was a tightly contested battle with 15 ties—more than the entire 2023 Finals combined. But when the final minutes arrived, the Pacers seized control.
All Eyes on Game 4 as Indiana Eyes Momentum
Game 4 tips off Friday night, again in Indiana. The Thunder will aim to regroup and find late-game answers. But for now, the momentum belongs to a Pacers squad that’s thriving on togetherness, toughness, and a next-man-up mentality.
As Haliburton put it, “We just had guys make plays after plays. Our bench was amazing.” And in a series defined by adjustments, Indiana made the one that mattered most.
