Pacers Rally Past Thunder to Take 2-1 NBA Finals Lead

Tyrese Haliburton emphasized the collective strength of the Indiana Pacers after their 116-107 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, giving them a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series.

Haliburton came close to a triple-double, tallying 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, as Indiana overcame a five-point deficit entering the final quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Pacers’ bench proved to be a decisive factor, outscoring the Thunder’s reserves 49-18. Bennedict Mathurin was especially impactful, contributing 27 points off the bench.

“It was a total team effort,” Haliburton said postgame. “Ben Mathurin was phenomenal. Everyone stepped up and made big plays.”

Mathurin echoed the importance of mental toughness, stating, “Resilience is key. You’ve got to be the one applying pressure if you want to win.”

Indiana, bouncing back from a 123-107 loss in Game 2, continued their streak of not dropping back-to-back games since March.

Despite the efforts of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named the league’s MVP and finished with 24 points (only three of which came in the fourth quarter), the Thunder struggled down the stretch. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 26 points, and Chet Holmgren added a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Turnovers proved costly for the Thunder, who committed 19 errors that the Pacers converted into 21 points.

“In the fourth quarter, they clearly outplayed us on both ends,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault admitted.

Game 4 is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. local time on Friday (1:30 a.m. BST Saturday), once again in Indianapolis.