The Indiana Pacers have surged ahead in the NBA Finals, securing a 2-1 lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder after a hard-fought 116-107 victory on Wednesday. Tyrese Haliburton was the driving force behind the Pacers' triumph, nearly achieving a triple-double with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists.
Bennedict Mathurin delivered a career-best playoff performance, scoring 27 crucial points off the bench. The Pacers' bench depth proved to be a significant advantage, outscoring the Thunder's reserves 49-18. This collective effort ultimately wore down Oklahoma City's star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed only three points in the final quarter.
"So many different guys chipped in," Haliburton said, highlighting the team's balanced contribution. "Ben Mathurin was amazing off the bench tonight. He just stuck with it. We just had guys make plays after plays."
Pascal Siakam added 21 points for Indiana, while TJ McConnell contributed 10 points and five steals off the bench. The Pacers' resilience was evident as they improved to 10-0 in games immediately following a defeat since March 11.
Coach Rick Carlisle praised the impact of Mathurin and McConnell, stating, "Those guys were tremendous. T.J. just brought a will, competitive will, to the game. Mathurin jumped in there and immediately was aggressive and got the ball in the basket. This is the kind of team that we are."
The Pacers will look to extend their lead in the best-of-seven series when they host Game 4 on Friday. The series will then return to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday. The momentum is currently with Indiana, but the Thunder will be eager to bounce back and reclaim control of the Finals.
Down by five points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Pacers rallied. Haliburton's three-pointer with 6:42 remaining gave them the lead for good. Obi Toppin's impressive dunk, followed by a crucial block on a Jalen Williams layup, solidified the Pacers' control in the closing moments.