Mathurin Powers Pacers to Game 3 NBA Finals Win
If you needed a reminder that role players can flip a championship series, Bennedict Mathurin just gave you a loud one. Coming off the bench, Mathurin exploded for 27 points and lit the fuse on a fourth-quarter surge that powered the Indiana Pacers past the Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-107, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The win launches the Pacers into a 2-1 series lead and turns the Finals into their show—at least for now.
Indiana wasn’t supposed to dictate pace and style against the league-leading Thunder, who rang up 68 wins in the regular season. But with Mathurin catching fire, Tyrese Haliburton flirting with another triple-double (22 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds), and Pascal Siakam chipping in 21, the Pacers showed they have more than one trick up their sleeve. The bench, often an afterthought in deep playoff series, was borderline ruthless—outscoring Oklahoma City’s backups 49 to 18. When almost half your points are coming from non-starters, you know something wild’s going on in the rotation room.
Thunder Falter in the Fourth, Pacers Hit Their Stride
You could see the tension swing in real time. The Thunder had nursed a five-point edge heading into the fourth quarter. Usually, that’s when they tighten the screws and try to break you. Instead, Indiana slammed them with a 32-18 final period, stifling shots and forcing the Thunder into awkward looks. Jalen Williams dropped 26 for OKC and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 24, but when Indiana’s defense locked in, the Thunder’s buckets dried up. Chet Holmgren managed 20 points, but even he found open space rare down the stretch.
Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t reinvent the wheel—he just made it spin faster, giving his reserves more time and tweaking matchups late. That’s been the Pacers’ vibe since mid-March: every time they lose, they bounce back. The win makes it a perfect 10-0 record after a loss over that span.
This isn't just momentum—there’s history backing the Pacers, too. Out of 41 past Finals tied 1-1, the team that snags Game 3 has pulled off the title 33 times. That 80.5% success rate suddenly puts pressure on Oklahoma City to throw their best punch in Game 4, scheduled for Friday in Indianapolis. Lose again, and the Pacers are one step away from their first ever NBA crown.
For a Pacers squad that started the playoffs as the East’s fourth seed, everything feels possible. Their fans, loud and ready, know they’re standing in the way of the NBA’s top seed. Game 4 could tip this series from tense to historic—and with Mathurin and company dialing up energy, it wouldn’t be smart to count Indiana out now.
- Jun, 12 2025
- Cassius Montgomery
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