June 12, 2025 – Indianapolis – In a pivotal Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers rode a stunning bench explosion to a 116–107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, grabbing a 2–1 edge in the series.
Bench Ballers Shine
Reserve guards Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell combined for an eye-popping 49 points, creating the spark that tilted the game—and potentially the title—towards Indiana.
- Mathurin, playing his first postseason game since last year’s injury, dropped 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding key rebounds, an assist, and a crucial three-pointer to seal it .
- McConnell complimented him with 10 points, five assists, and five steals, delivering energy, defense, and hustle when the game hung in the balance.
Star Power & Team Depth
While the animated bench stole headlines:
- Tyrese Haliburton flirted with a triple-double—22 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds—and orchestrated big plays throughout.
- Pascal Siakam also chipped in with 21 points, keeping the Thunder on alert.
Coach Rick Carlisle exclaimed the bench’s impact was “tremendous,” applauding their competitive fire and how they embodied the Pacers’ depth-first identity.
Thunder Struggle, Turnovers Tell the Tale
Despite 26 and 24 points from Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, respectively, Oklahoma City faltered at the free-throw line and turned the ball over 17–19 times, conceding 21 points off turnovers, including a crucial 49–18 bench deficit
Chet Holmgren posted 20 points and 10 rebounds, but went 0-for-6 from three, failing to keep the Pacers at bay .
Historic Feat & Gathering Momentum
- Mathurin joined an elite club: first player since Jason Terry (2011) to score 25+ points off the bench in an NBA Finals game.
- It marks Indiana’s first home Finals game in 25 years, and their first win in that setting since Game 6 of the 2000 Finals .
- After avoiding back‑to‑back losses since March, Indiana surged ahead in the series.
Tactical Breakdown
- Bench domination: 49 bench points underscored the depth advantage.
- Turnovers punished: Pacers capitalized on Thunder miscues.
- Big men presence: Siakam’s interior offense paired with McConnell’s floor leadership kept momentum steady.
- Home crowd energy: The packed Fieldhouse responded to every play, lifting the reserves when it mattered
Looking Ahead to Game 4
With Game 4 back in Indiana on Friday, the Pacers have a chance to send Oklahoma City into a daunting 3–1 hole. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault noted his team must regain composure and stop the bleeding from bench mismatches
Why It Matters
- Series momentum: Teams winning Game 3 in a 1–1 series go on to win the Finals ~80.5% of the time.
- Pacers’ resurgence: Indiana is using their depth and home-court advantage to script a potential Cinderella run.
- Thunder’s test: Oklahoma City must respond or risk seeing their season slip further away.
In Game 3, Indiana’s bench—led by Mathurin and McConnell—erupted for 49 points, neutralizing OKC’s stars. With Haliburton and Siakam steady, the Pacers now lead 2–1, poised to command the series as they head into Game 4 on their home floor.
