Pacers Electrify Indy with Game 3 Comeback in NBA Finals
Let me tell you what just went down in Game 3 of the NBA Finals — because if you missed it, you missed a storm brewing in Indiana. The Pacers are now up 2-1 in the series after taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in a rollercoaster of a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And trust me, this one was all heart, grit, and home-court swagger.
To start, this wasn’t looking good for Indiana heading into the fourth. Down by five, the energy was shaky. But then, something flipped. The Pacers exploded with a 32-18 fourth-quarter run that left OKC stunned. Tyrese Haliburton, the maestro of this squad, dropped 22 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed 9 rebounds — flirting with a triple-double and commanding the floor like a seasoned Finals vet. But the real shockwave came from the bench. Bennedict Mathurin went full-on flamethrower, pouring in 27 points in just 22 minutes, tying a Pacers postseason record for bench scoring. The kid was unstoppable — eight trips to the free throw line, plus a level of confidence that screamed superstar in the making.
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And that bench? It wasn’t just Mathurin. T.J. McConnell gave Indiana a serious boost with 10 points, five assists, five steals — and the Pacers were +12 in his 15 minutes. Obi Toppin? A quiet force, but his +18 in 28 minutes says it all. This wasn’t just a win — this was depth on display.
Defensively, Indiana made statement plays when it mattered most. Myles Turner had the sequence of the night — a block on Chet Holmgren from three, followed by another at the rim. Andrew Nembhard was ice-cold, snatching a clutch rebound over Holmgren and firing the outlet that led to a Pascal Siakam finish in transition. Siakam ended with 21 points, but more than the numbers, his presence was huge in key moments down the stretch.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and Jalen Williams dropped 26, but OKC unraveled late. They missed three crucial free throws in the final minute and were outplayed in the hustle stats — 19 turnovers, second-chance points given up, and transition lapses that Indiana converted into daggers.
Bottom line: The Pacers are not just playing inspired basketball — they’re dictating the terms. Indiana basketball is alive, dangerous, and one step closer to making history.
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