Indiana Pacers Reclaim Lead in NBA Finals with 116-107 Win Over Oklahoma City Thunder
The Indiana Pacers have taken a 2-1 series advantage in the NBA Finals after a thrilling 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, according to a report by ESPN. The Pacers’ bench played a crucial role in the win, outscoring the Thunder’s bench 49-18.
Bennedict Mathurin was the star of the show, scoring a game-high 27 points off the bench, the most points for a reserve in an NBA Finals game since Jason Terry in 2011. Mathurin’s impressive performance made him the sixth player since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976-77 to score 25 or more points in the Finals at age 22 or younger, joining an elite group of players including Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson.
The Pacers’ stars also played a significant role in the win, with Tyrese Haliburton adding 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam scored 21 points. The team’s coach, Rick Carlisle, praised his team’s performance, saying, “This is the kind of team that we are. We need everybody to be ready. It’s not always going to be exactly the same guys that are stepping up with scoring and stuff like that, but this is how we got to do it. We got to do it as a team.”
The Pacers’ win puts them in control of the series, with teams that win Game 3 of a 1-1 NBA Finals going on to win 80.5% of the time. The Pacers have also remained unbeaten after a loss in the 2025 postseason, improving to 5-0. They have not dropped back-to-back games since March 8 and 10.
Mathurin’s performance was particularly impressive given that he had not played a huge role in the first two games of the series. He revealed that he had put in extra work over the weekend to help prepare for Game 3. “Just staying ready,” Mathurin said. “Whenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win. That’s the whole mindset.”
Haliburton praised Mathurin’s performance, saying, “He did a great job of coming off handoffs, reading the pocket, rising up from the midrange. This is a defense that will give that up.” The Pacers also received a significant contribution from T.J. McConnell, who scored 10 points with five assists and five steals.
The Pacers’ win was also significant given Mathurin’s history with the team. He was the No. 6 pick of the 2022 draft and has been working to regain his form after a torn labrum in his right shoulder prevented him from playing during the Pacers’ run to the Eastern Conference finals last year. “As much as I was out last year, not being able to play, I learned a lot,” Mathurin said. “Just being on the bench and being next to the coaches who were able to run me through the game and stuff like that. It was an unfortunate situation, but I was fortunate enough to learn a lot and be ready for this year.”
Carlisle also praised Mathurin’s dedication, revealing that he had placed a calendar in the team’s training room with a countdown to when he would finally be cleared to play. “Every day he would come in and take one off, take one off,” Carlisle said. “He was counting the days down to being cleared sometime in August. Then be able to begin training camp, begin 5-on-5 with our guys in September and then be in training camp, really, with his eyes firmly set on an opportunity in the playoffs.”
The Pacers will look to take a stranglehold on the series when they face the Thunder in Game 4 on Friday night in Indianapolis. According to ESPN, the Pacers’ bench has been a key factor in their success, and Mathurin’s performance in Game 3 will be crucial in determining the outcome of the series. As Haliburton said, “When you have a team with this much depth, it can be anybody’s night.”
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