Pacers pull ahead of Thunder in the final quarter to take Game 3

Pacers Defeat Thunder in Game 3 of NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers successfully utilized their home advantage, overcoming the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 116-107 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. With this victory, the Pacers hold a 2-1 lead in the series, notably having snatched Game 1 thanks to a remarkable last-second jumper from Tyrese Halliburton.

After a somewhat lackluster performance in Game 2, Halliburton stepped up in this match, particularly excelling from beyond the arc to guide Indiana’s success.

He ended the game with 22 points, shooting nine for 17, which included four three-pointers. He also contributed with 11 assists and pulled down a rebound, falling just short of a triple-double. On the defensive end, Halliburton recorded two steals and a block.

It has become evident throughout this series how crucial the depth of the bench has been, and Pacers guard Benedict Mathurin showed just that. He shone in the game, netting 27 points while shooting very effectively—nine of 12 from the field and seven of eight from the free-throw line—in just 22 minutes of play. He also managed four rebounds and an assist.

Pascal Siakam also made a significant contribution, joining the 20-point club with 21 points, shooting five of six from the free-throw line, along with six rebounds and four assists.

On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a less-than-stellar outing by his usual standards, scoring 24 points along with eight rebounds and four assists. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points that evening.

Chet Holmgren, aiming to surpass 20 points, finished with a double-double, gathering 10 rebounds and two assists.

The Pacers exploded with 40 points in the second quarter, leading to an overall score of 89-84 by the end of the third quarter. However, Oklahoma City displayed an impressive offensive push in the fourth, outscoring Indiana 32-18, which was a remarkable turnaround for the team.