Pacers bench is X factor to beating Thunder in NBA Finals

Bench scoring in the NBA Finals is a phrase that continues to come up for a reason. The 2025 championship clash between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder has shown how second units can flip games and tilt the entire series. In a Finals loaded with young and talented stars, it's the bench players who have shaped momentum, answered scoring droughts and, in some cases, delivered knockout blows.

Bench scoring has set the tone in this series

The gap in bench production between the Pacers and Thunder is hard to ignore. In Game 3, Indiana’s bench put up a massive 49 points, while the Thunder’s reserves managed just 18. That 31-point edge made the difference in Indiana taking a 2-1 lead in the series without having to resort to late-game heroics.

Bennedict Mathurin stole the show with 27 points in just 22 minutes, shooting 9-of-12 and hitting clutch free throws down the stretch. T.J. McConnell added 10 points, five assists and five steals, which is the first time that had been done by a player off the bench in NBA Finals history. Like the pace cars they’re named after, Indiana’s bench kept the pace up and forced the Thunder to scramble on both ends, never letting them settle. In both Pacers’ wins so far in this series, it’s been their bench that made the difference.

Indy’s depth has allowed the Pacers to play aggressive, up-tempo basketball without worrying about fatigue. The Thunder, in contrast, have relied heavily on performances from their starters. When their main guys sit, scoring has often dried up. So far, this bench imbalance has been the catalyst for Indiana stealing home-court advantage and the lead in this series.

Impactful trends

Bench scoring in the NBA Finals isn’t just about buckets, it’s also tied to other game-changing stats. Indiana’s bench-heavy lineups have increased the team’s ability to force turnovers and push the pace. In Game 3, the Pacers forced 19 Thunder turnovers, converting easy chances with fresh legs.

Indiana has also leaned on three-point shooting, often with bench shooters spacing the floor and opening lanes for driving guards. The Thunder have countered with defensive pressure, ranking among the best in the NBA throughout the regular season and playoffs. But when your bench gets outscored by 20 or more, most defenses would crack under the extra load.

Winning the bench battle

With both teams’ starters running hot and cold, bench scoring is the swing factor. Indiana’s bench unit has a plus-minus of +18 in Game 3, and its late-game surge — outscoring OKC, 32-18, in the fourth — sealed the win.

Meanwhile, OKC’s reserves have struggled to generate offense or slow Indiana’s surging second group in two of the first three games in this series. When the Thunder bench posts a negative plus-minus, the starters are forced into longer minutes, often running on fumes by crunch time.

Momentum in the Finals can shift in an instant. Basketball is a game of runs, where leads can be erased in a couple of possessions by fresh legs off the bench. If Indiana’s reserves continue to win the battle of the second units, it's likely to walk away with the first NBA championship in franchise history. In contrast, if the Thunder’s bench can find that spark, they could swing this series back in their favor.