INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (Diya TV) – The Indiana Pacers delivered a statement performance Wednesday night in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, using a massive fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Oklahoma City Thunder and secure a 116–107 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With the win, Indiana now holds a 2–1 lead in the series.
This one came down to bench production and Indiana’s second unit dominated.
Bennedict Mathurin, in particular, was electric. The second-year guard dropped 27 points in just 22 minutes, becoming the first reserve to score that many in a Finals game since Jason Terry in 2011.
Veteran guard T.J. McConnell also stepped up with 10 points, 5 steals, and 5 assists. From the starting lineup, Tyrese Haliburton nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 21 points and 6 boards.
The game was tied at 98–98 with under seven minutes to play, but the Pacers took over from there. Indiana outscored Oklahoma City 32–18 in the fourth, thanks to the airtight defense and timely buckets from both the starting unit and the bench.
Despite the loss, Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 24 (but had more turnovers than assists), and Chet Holmgren contributed 20. But OKC’s bench was essentially ineffective, getting outscored 49–18 by Indiana’s reserves.
Historically, teams that take a 2–1 lead in the Finals go on to win the series more than 80% of the time. With Game 4 also set to take place in Indiana on Friday, the Pacers have a golden opportunity to inch closer to their first NBA title in franchise history.
