Pacers regain upper hand in NBA Finals after beating Thunder in Game 3

The Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Wednesday, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Despite playing on the road, Oklahoma City was the more aggressive side in the first quarter, which saw Chet Holmgren shoot 4-for-5 from the field to score 13 points, while also grabbing four rebounds. The visiting team also shot better beyond the three-point line and led 32-24 when the period ended.

The Thunder's backup unit outperformed their Indiana counterparts in each of the first two contests in the championship series, but that script was flipped in Game 3. Bennedict Mathurin made five of his six shots in the second quarter to contribute 14 points off the bench for the Pacers. Meanwhile, T.J. McConnell made key defensive contributions for the hosts with three steals in the period. Their efforts helped Indy outscore OKC 40-28 in the quarter to lead 64-60 at halftime.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams helped Oklahoma City battle back as the second half tipped off, with each adding nine points in the third quarter. The visitors also tightened up their defense, limited Indiana to 1-for-9 shooting behind the arc, and surged in front 89-84 at the end of the period.

The Pacers managed to match the Thunder in defensive intensity in the fourth quarter, making it difficult for Gilgeous-Alexander to attack off the dribble. As a result, the regular season Most Valuable Player took just three shots from the floor in the period and made only one, tallying a mere three points.

Neither Williams nor Alex Caruso were able to pick up the slack on offense, and the team missed 11 of its 17 field goal attempts, including all four shots from downtown, to register just 18 points.

Indy shot 13-for-21 from the field in the fourth quarter, on the other hand, outscoring OKC 32-18. Mathurin made a pair of threes while adding 10 points for the hosts. He finished with a game-high 27 points off the bench, more than the total contribution of the road side's substitutes.

McConnell ended the night with 10 points, five assists, and five steals. Tyrese Haliburton was one rebound away from a triple-double after recording 22 points and 11 assists. Myles Turner only added nine points, but also posted five blocks to spark the Pacers on defense.

The Thunder's "Big Three" – Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Holmgren – combined for 70 points, but distributed just nine assists while committing 11 turnovers.

Indiana will host Game 4 on Friday.