Jalen Williams hit a buzzer-beater to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a five-point lead after three quarters. That put them right where the Indiana Pacers wanted them in Game 3 on Wednesday.
JDUB BEATS THE 3RD QUARTER BUZZER pic.twitter.com/BrmxGzcyzD
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025
The Pacers outscored the Thunder, 32-18, in the fourth quarter to make yet another playoff comeback in a 116-107 victory. Indiana relied on its underrated defense to slow down the Thunder and shared the ball late. Eight different Pacers scored in the final quarter, with Aaron Nesmith delivering the dagger three-pointer off of one of Tyrese Haliburton's 11 assists.
The perfect skip pass by Haliburton,
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025
The buried triple by Nesmith.
Pacers lead by 8 with under 3 minutes to go in Game 3 on ABC pic.twitter.com/YefKP0Tiip
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points and Williams finished with 26, but the Thunder hurt themselves badly with 17 turnovers. For a team that forced the most turnovers and committed the fewest in the NBA this season, losing the turnover battle, 17-13, takes away what's normally one of OKC's biggest advantages.
But the Pacers also had a giant advantage in bench points. Third-year guard Bennedict Mathurin scored a career playoff-high 27 points off the bench, on 9-for-12 shooting. The Thunder couldn't handle him or T.J. McConnell, who had five steals, three on inbounds passes, and five assists.
MATHURIN FOR 25 AND A NEW PLAYOFF CAREER HIGH!
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025
Gives the @Pacers the lead in the 4th pic.twitter.com/MpQ8BK8vJ1
By contrast, Oklahoma City reserves had only 18 points compared to the Pacers' 49. By dominating the bench minutes, particularly when Gilgeous-Alexander was sitting, the Pacers stole a game where they missed two-thirds of their three-pointers.
It may have been easy to write off Game 1 as a wild Pacers comeback capped off by a miracle shot from Haliburton. In Game 3, the Pacers proved they can match the Thunder's famed depth and win even when their shots aren't following.
Now they're two wins away from their first NBA title.
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