Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Game 3: Indiana Pacers leads 2-1
With the 2025 NBA Finals shifting to Indianapolis for a pivotal Game 3, the series transformed from a basketball contest into a cauldron of raw emotion and tactical warfare. In front of a ravenous home crowd, the Indiana Pacers delivered their most complete performance of the series, securing a hard-fought 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 2-1 series lead. This was not a game won by a single superstar; it was a testament to the power of a team’s identity.
The Pacers leaned into everything that got them to this point: their incredible bench depth, a tenacious defensive game plan, and an unwavering team-first ethos. The victory was a masterclass in how to neutralize an MVP and a powerful demonstration of why the surprising Pacers are now just two wins away from their first-ever NBA championship.
The “Bench Mob” Erupts: Indiana’s Depth Steals the Show
The story of Game 3 can be told through one staggering statistic: the Indiana Pacers’ bench outscored the Oklahoma City Thunder’s reserves by an incredible margin of 49-18. In a high-stakes Finals game, this level of production from a second unit is a game-altering advantage. While stars like Tyrese Haliburton, who flirted with a triple-double (22 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds), and Pascal Siakam (21 points) provided their usual steady leadership, it was the “Bench Mob” that truly won the game for Indiana.
Leading this charge was sixth man Bennedict Mathurin, who delivered a historic and explosive performance. The young guard was a whirlwind of aggressive, efficient scoring, pouring in a playoff career-high 27 points on a hyper-efficient 9-of-12 shooting. His performance was the third-most points ever scored by a player off the bench in an NBA Finals game, providing a massive offensive spark every time he was on the floor. He was complemented by the relentless energy of backup point guard T.J. McConnell. A disruptive force on both ends of the floor, McConnell also made history, becoming the first player ever to record at least 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals off the bench in a Finals game. As head coach Rick Carlisle noted after the game, “Those guys were tremendous. T.J. just brought a will, competitive will to the game. Mathurin jumped in there and immediately was aggressive and got the ball in the basket.” This dominant performance from the second unit was the single biggest difference-maker in the game.
Muting the MVP: The Masterful Defensive Plan for SGA
After allowing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to dominate in the first two games of the series, the Pacers coaching staff, led by Rick Carlisle, implemented a brilliant and aggressive defensive game plan designed to neutralize the league’s MVP. The strategy was clear: make it as difficult as possible for SGA to even touch the ball, let alone score. The Pacers, one of the most aggressive full-court pressing teams in the league, cranked up the pressure to an entirely new level. Led by the tenacious defense of Andrew Nembhard, they picked up Gilgeous-Alexander as soon as he crossed half-court, hounding him with relentless ball denial and physical pressure.
The tactical adjustment worked to perfection. Frustrated and exhausted by the constant attention, Gilgeous-Alexander was forced into a season-high six turnovers and was often relegated to being a bystander on offense. The Pacers successfully took the ball out of his hands, forcing other Thunder players to try and create offense, a task they struggled with. With SGA effectively “muted” and unable to get into his usual rhythm, the Thunder’s entire offensive structure sputtered. While he still managed to score 24 points, his impact on the game was significantly diminished. This defensive masterclass was a gutsy and brilliantly executed strategic adjustment that completely changed the complexion of the series.
Winning on the Margins: A Game of Hustle and Composure
While the bench production and defensive strategy were the headline stories, Game 3 was ultimately won on the margins. In a back-and-forth contest that featured 13 ties and eight lead changes, it was the Indiana Pacers who consistently made the crucial hustle plays when it mattered most. They won the turnover battle, committing only 13 while forcing the Thunder into 17 costly mistakes. They were also more effective in the open court, winning the fast-break points battle 17-10.
The Thunder, on the other hand, struggled with the small details. They were uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball and, most critically, they struggled from the free-throw line, missing seven of their 30 attempts. In a game decided by just nine points, these missed opportunities proved to be incredibly costly. The Pacers, fueled by the energy of their home crowd, demonstrated a superior level of composure down the stretch. In the final quarter, their defense was suffocating, holding the high-powered Thunder to just 18 points. It was a complete team effort, a victory earned through superior execution, relentless effort, and an unwavering belief in their system.
A Historic Opportunity: Two Wins from a Championship
With their victory in Game 3, the Indiana Pacers now find themselves in a remarkable position. They hold a 2-1 series lead over the heavily favored Thunder and are just two wins away from capturing their first NBA championship. The historical precedent is now firmly on their side: in NBA Finals history, when a series is tied 1-1, the team that wins Game 3 goes on to win the championship 80% of the time. This young, fearless Pacers team has consistently defied expectations throughout the entire postseason, and they now have a tangible, historic opportunity within their grasp.
The pressure now shifts squarely onto the shoulders of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 68-win juggernaut must find a way to solve the puzzle presented by the Pacers’ suffocating defense and incredible depth. They will need to make significant tactical adjustments to free up their MVP and get more production from their supporting cast. For the first time in the 2025 NBA Finals, the underdog Indiana Pacers are in control, and the stage is set for a dramatic and potentially historic conclusion to the series.
