Thunder-Pacers Game 3 takeaways: Bennedict Mathurin breaks out

The 2025 NBA Finals have been a back-and-forth chess match between two young, hungry teams. And with the series tied at 1-1 heading into Game 3, it was Indiana's turn to punch back – this time led by a new name under the spotlight.

In each Finals game so far, an unexpected hero has emerged. In Game 1, Lu Dort and Obi Toppin each hit five threes in a jaw-dropping display. In Game 2, it was Aaron Wiggins who erupted off the bench for Oklahoma City. Game 3, however, belonged to Bennedict Mathurin.

Here are our takeaways from Game 3’s electric finish:

The Bennedict Mathurin Game

Every Finals series features a breakout game – the kind of moment that lives forever in a player’s career highlight reel. Game 3 was that for Bennedict Mathurin. The second-year guard played with fearless aggression, attacking mismatches and knocking down big shots in rhythm.

Mathurin poured in a playoff career-high 27 points on 9‑for‑12 shooting in just 22 minutes off the bench – the first 25+ point performance by a Finals reserve since Jason Terry in 2011, providing the kind of offensive spark that shifted the energy of the game. His slashing, transition pace, and ability to finish through contact gave Oklahoma City’s defense fits.

What made it even more impressive was the stage. In a chance to go up at home, Mathurin didn’t blink. He embraced the moment – and owned it.

Turnovers tilt the game

Turnovers have been a recurring theme throughout these Finals. Game 1 saw the Pacers lose control with sloppy passes. In Game 2, they cleaned that up – and it was OKC who capitalized. But in Game 3, the Thunder once again found themselves sabotaged by their own mistakes.

Oklahoma City committed 17 turnovers – matching their season high – leading to easy runouts and momentum-shifting plays for the Pacers. Indiana turned those giveaways into, which made a huge difference in a tightly contested game.

For a young team built on pace and rhythm, turnovers are especially costly. They don't just stop your offense – they fuel the opponent’s.

Indiana’s bench strikes again

The Pacers' bench has been a massive factor in this series, and Game 3 only reinforced that. Led by Mathurin, T.J. McConnell, and Obi Toppin, Indiana’s second unit outplayed OKC’s reserves for the second time in three games.

McConnell controlled tempo, picked his spots, and brought his usual scrappy defensive presence. Toppin continued to provide floor spacing and timely cuts. The Pacers’ bench finished with 49 points, outscoring the Thunder’s second unit and shifting the game’s momentum every time they checked in.

For Indiana, this kind of depth has been a differentiator all postseason – and it’s showing up again on the biggest stage.

Pacers tweak defensive coverage on SGA

One of the most critical adjustments Indiana made in Game 3 was its defensive coverage on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder star had dominated the first two games by manipulating pick-and-roll coverages with surgical precision. But Indiana threw him a different look this time.

“They were higher tonight in the pick and rolls. They were above the screens,” SGA noted after the game.

That higher positioning took away some of his downhill driving lanes and forced him into tougher midrange pull-ups. While Shai still found ways to impact the game, scoring 24 points, the defensive tweak clearly disrupted his rhythm early and helped Indiana build momentum.

Final thoughts

Game 3 proved once again that no moment is too big for these young Pacers. Between the bench depth, defensive adjustments, and Mathurin’s coming-out party, Indiana has seized a 2-1 lead in the series, and the upper hand heading into Game 4, still in Indianapolis.

For Oklahoma City, it’s back to the drawing board. The Thunder will need to take better care of the ball and find new counters for Indiana’s evolving game plan if they want to tie things up again.

With each game rewriting the narrative, this Finals continues to deliver – and Game 4 is already shaping up to be another classic.