The Indiana Pacers pulled off a spirited fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116–107 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, seizing a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Playing in front of a roaring home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the Pacers overcame a five-point deficit entering the final quarter, thanks to a complete team performance led by Tyrese Haliburton and an explosive effort from the bench.
Haliburton came close to a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, but it was the bench production that truly tipped the balance. Bennedict Mathurin emerged as a game-changer, pouring in 27 points as Indiana’s reserves outscored Oklahoma City’s bench 49–18. The win extended Indiana’s impressive streak of avoiding back-to-back losses since March, bouncing back convincingly from their 123–107 defeat in Game 2.
🌪️ Thunder Falter in Final Quarter
Despite a solid showing through three quarters, the Thunder faltered late. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was limited to just three points in the fourth quarter, finishing the night with 24 points overall.
Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 26 points, while Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the team’s 19 turnovers proved costly, resulting in 21 points for the Pacers.
“In the fourth quarter, I just thought they really outplayed us on both ends,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault.
