Sports: Pacers Flip the Script in Game 3 to Take Commanding NBA Finals Lead
The Indiana Pacers delivered a powerful statement on Wednesday night, bouncing back from their Game 2 loss to outplay the Oklahoma City Thunder 116–107 and take a 2–1 lead in the NBA Finals. Fueled by depth, discipline, and determination, the Pacers now find themselves in control of a series that’s shaping up to be an instant classic.
A Bench-Fueled Breakout
Canada's own Bennedict Mathurin was a revelation off the
bench, scoring 27 crucial points and electrifying the home crowd. It was a
breakout performance that helped Indiana overwhelm Oklahoma City’s reserves
with a massive 49–18 edge in bench points. Pascal Siakam chipped in 21 points,
and Tyrese Haliburton was everywhere, posting 22 points, 11 assists, and nine
rebounds in a near triple-double showing.
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin shoots against the
Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals
basketball series. (Abbie Parr/AP)
“We need everybody to be ready,” said head coach Rick
Carlisle. “It’s not always going to be the same guys scoring, but this is how
we’ve got to do it as a team.”
Defense, Fast Breaks, and Highlight Plays
One of the game's most memorable moments came when
Haliburton intercepted a pass and bolted down the court, delivering a
highlight-reel assist to Obi Toppin in transition. TJ McConnell also made NBA
Finals history with 10 points, five assists, and five steals off the bench, a
stat line no player had ever posted coming off the bench in a Finals game
before.
Thunder Lose Their Grip Late
Despite leading by five points entering the fourth quarter,
the Thunder couldn’t hold on. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 26 points,
while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 24 and Chet Holmgren put up 20. But when it
mattered most, Indiana took over, dominating the final 12 minutes in front of
a star-studded crowd that included Caitlin Clark, Reggie Miller, and Oscar
Robertson.
“We had a lot of good stretches,” Thunder coach Mark
Daigneault reflected. “But they had more — and outplayed us over the course of
48 minutes.”
History on Indiana’s Side
Game 3 of a tied NBA Finals is often a turning point, and
history backs that up. In the 41 Finals previously tied 1–1, the team that won
Game 3 went on to win the championship 33 times, an 80.5% success rate.
This game was as tight as they come, with 15 ties — a number
not seen in an NBA Finals matchup since the dramatic 2018 Game 1 clash between
Cleveland and Golden State.
Looking Ahead
With the series shifting into its most critical phase, the
Pacers are showing resilience and unity, bouncing back from losses with
strength (now 10–0 in games following a defeat since mid-March). As they chase
their first-ever NBA title, the message from the locker room is clear: it's
going to take all of them.
“We’re not just a team of stars,” Carlisle emphasized.
“We’re a team, period.”
Stay tuned to ONZANEWSBlog for continuing coverage of the
2025 NBA Finals.
Tags: #PacersVsThunder #NBAFinals2025
#BennedictMathurin #Haliburton #TeamBasketball #Game3Victory #ONZABlogSports
#CanadaBasketball #PacersHistory #NBAPlayoffs
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