The Indiana Pacers now hold a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 in Indiana. The Pacers reclaimed the series lead with a complete team effort led by their star players and a dominant showing from their bench. With the win, Indiana remains unbeaten in the 2025 playoffs following a loss, improving to 5-0 in such games. They haven’t dropped back-to-back games since March 8 and 10.
Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to deliver a game-high 27 points—the most by a player coming off the bench in an NBA Finals game since Jason Terry for the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. He also added 4 rebounds and a block, setting a personal playoff career high in scoring. 10 of his points came in the fourth quarter, where he outscored the entire Thunder bench by 9.
T.J. McConnell also provided a major spark off the bench, contributing 10 points and 5 steals. Indiana’s bench outscored Oklahoma City’s 49-18, a key factor in the win.
Tyrese Haliburton nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. Pascal Siakam added 21 points. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points, while league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting—his first game in the Finals without reaching the 30-point mark. Chet Holmgren chipped in with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pacers had struggled offensively through the first two games of the series. Despite winning Game 1, they committed 25 turnovers and had to rally from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter. In Game 3, Indiana’s defense stepped up, applying the kind of pressure that had defined their playoff run—and it paid off.
Trailing by 5 points entering the fourth quarter, the Pacers outscored the Thunder 32-18 down the stretch to seal the win. Oklahoma City, which averaged 11.7 turnovers per game during the regular season and 12 in the playoffs, committed 17 in Game 3. The Thunder also struggled late, going 0-for-4 from three-point range in the fourth. Gilgeous-Alexander, known as one of the league’s best closers, was limited to just three shot attempts in the final quarter.
Game 4 is set for Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Benn Mathurin was COOKING last night!
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025
🔥 27 points
🔥 9-12 from the floor
🔥 Indy takes 2-1 lead
He's the youngest player to score 25+ points off the bench in the Finals since 1971 🤯pic.twitter.com/xcXZlejdpF
Check out the Key Plays of the Game from Game 3 of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/Z4LdcC9SEo
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025
