Pacer Power: Mathurin Lifts Indiana to NBA Finals Edge
What a night for the Indiana Pacers and their fans. The Energy inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse was off the charts as the Pacers outmuscled the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107, snagging a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Pacers fans, who’ve waited decades for a shot at basketball glory, finally got to host a finals game that truly mattered — and their heroes delivered in style.
The matchup was a tug-of-war most of the way, with neither team holding a double-digit lead until the final minutes. But when it mattered, Indiana turned up the pressure. The Pacers’ defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, forcing the Thunder to play hurried and sloppy, pulling away just when the game was up for grabs.
All eyes were on Bennedict Mathurin, who didn’t even start the game but finished as the brightest star on the court. His stat line looked video-game unreal: 27 points in just 27 minutes, shooting a blazing 75% from the field. Toss in a couple of threes and some hard-earned rebounds, and Mathurin proved the bench can be a series-changing force.
Across the court, the Thunder’s Jalen Williams tried to keep Oklahoma City in the fight. He led his team with 26 points, but the supporting cast just couldn’t keep up. The real disappointment for the Thunder? League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who coughed up the ball six times. The Pacers’ swarming defense forced 17 turnovers overall, turning Oklahoma City possessions into Indiana fast breaks and easy buckets.
The Bench Difference and What’s at Stake
Sometimes the biggest games are decided by the least likely heroes, and Game 3 was a textbook case. Indiana’s bench torched the Thunder’s reserves, 49-18. That gap turned out to be the game’s biggest swing. It wasn’t just Mathurin — backup point guard T.J. McConnell and forward Obi Toppin added energy and smart play, wearing out an Oklahoma City second unit that looked a step slow all night.
If you’re wondering if the Thunder are cooked, not so fast. Despite the loss, odds-makers still think Oklahoma City is the favorite to win it all. These guys have made a habit of bouncing back. They already clawed back from a 2-1 deficit against Denver in the second round, so this pressure isn’t new for them. And don’t forget, this is a Thunder team that steamrolled the regular season, picking up 68 wins and holding the league’s best record. They haven’t faced much adversity, but when they did, they answered.
This series is more than just about who wins the trophy. It’s history in the making. Neither the Indiana Pacers nor the Oklahoma City Thunder (in their current city) has ever won an NBA title. The only taste of ultimate victory for Indiana was in the old ABA days of the 1970s, which is ancient history at this point. The Thunder, meanwhile, have a single championship to their name — but it came in 1979, back when they were still calling Seattle home.
Game 4 is coming fast on Friday night, and with the Pacers back on their home court and momentum swinging their way, all eyes will be on whether Indiana can take a stranglehold on the series. If Oklahoma City can’t solve their turnover woes and get the bench going, they might watch history slip away.
Indianapolis hasn’t felt this close to an NBA title in years. But the Thunder have made a habit of staging comebacks before, so expect more drama and maybe a surprise or two before this Finals is settled.
