Indiana Pacers Hold Off Thunder in Pivotal Game 3
The NBA Finals got a fresh jolt of energy Wednesday night in Indianapolis, as the Indiana Pacers pulled off a 116-107 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Pacers fans packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse with the kind of raucous energy that only a Finals game can summon—and their team returned the favor with grit and big moments on both ends of the floor.
Right from opening tip, the Pacers showed they weren't fazed by the Thunder's pace or star power. Tyrese Haliburton set the tone early, finding seams in the defense, firing slick assists, and burying timely threes. Haliburton’s decisiveness with the ball was on full display, as he attacked the lane and forced Oklahoma City to scramble on every possession.
On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did everything he could to keep the Thunder in it. Whenever it seemed Indiana might pull away, SGA would answer—hitting tough step-backs, drawing fouls, or making life miserable for defenders in isolation. Still, Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't do it alone, and his supporting cast couldn’t seem to match Indiana’s bench punch.
Bench Depth and Rebounding Tip the Balance
One thing that became clear as the game wore on: the Pacers’ depth was the difference. Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench with a first-half scoring burst that energized the building and swung the momentum. Alex Caruso chipped in with clutch defense and spot-up shooting, two things Oklahoma City struggled to contain despite aggressive rotations.
Even with their stars logging heavy minutes, Oklahoma City just didn't get enough from their reserves. Indiana outscored the Thunder’s bench and consistently won hustle plays. The glass told a story, too: every loose ball seemed to roll Indiana’s way, and the official rebounding tally had the Pacers ahead by four. It wasn’t a monster gap, but it translated to second-chance opportunities that the home side didn’t waste.
Both teams traded runs, and the Thunder tried to claw back late in the fourth quarter. But each time, Indiana responded, whether it was Haliburton working the pick-and-roll, Pascal Siakam cleaning up inside, or Caruso making a gritty stop. The crowd fed off every swing—a big block here, a timely bucket there—and by the last two minutes, it felt like Indianapolis believed a championship might really be within reach.
- Pacers shot over 48% from the field and won the points-in-the-paint battle
- Thunder’s offense stalled at critical stretches, especially in the second half
- The ABC broadcast picked up plenty of crowd noise, especially during late-game runs
Game 3’s win gives Indiana all the momentum as the Finals move to Game 4. Oklahoma City will have to regroup fast if they’re going to keep their championship hopes alive—especially against a Pacers squad playing with supreme confidence at home. The next matchup will be another nationally televised showdown, with fans tuning in across ABC and popular streaming platforms like Fubo and SlingTV.