Introduction to the NBA Finals Game 3
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points off the bench, Tyrese Haliburton added 22 and the Indiana Pacers reclaimed the lead in the NBA Finals by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Team Performance
Haliburton also had 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who got 21 points from Pascal Siakam and enjoyed a whopping 49-18 edge in bench points. The Pacers, who lost Game 2 in Oklahoma City, improved to 10-0 since mid-March in the game immediately following a loss. “So many different guys chipped in,” Haliburton said.
Thunder’s Effort
Jalen Williams scored 26 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 24 and Chet Holmgren had 20 for the Thunder, who led by five going into the fourth. Game 4 is back in Indiana on Friday night.
Historical Context
History says the Pacers are in control of the series now; in the 41 previous NBA Finals that were tied at a game apiece, the Game 3 winner went on to hoist the trophy 33 times — an 80.5% clip. Advantage, Pacers. It was back-and-forth much of the way, at times looking like an absolute classic. There were 15 ties; to put that in perspective, there were 13 ties in the five-game entirety of last year’s finals between Boston and Dallas.
Notable Performances
The last time there was a finals game with more ties: Game 1 between Cleveland in Golden State in 2018, which was knotted 17 times. TJ McConnell finished with 10 points, five assists and five steals for Indiana; since all those stats started being charted, nobody had ever come off the bench and done all that in an NBA Finals game. “We just had guys make plays after plays,” Haliburton said. “Our bench was amazing.”
Crucial Moments
The Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith fouled Alex Caruso — a hard foul, for certain — with 2:35 left, and officials took a long look to determine if it met the criteria for a flagrant foul. A common foul was the final call and instead of two free throws plus the ball, it was just two free throws for Caruso. He made both, cutting the lead to 110-104. But the Pacers — at home in an NBA Finals game for the first time in 25 years — kept control the rest of the way.
Conclusion
The Pacers’ victory marks a significant turning point in the series, giving them a 2-1 lead. Their ability to rally in the fourth quarter and outperform the Thunder in bench points was crucial to their success. As the series continues, it will be interesting to see how both teams adjust their strategies to gain an advantage.
FAQs
- Q: Who led the Pacers in scoring?
A: Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 27 points off the bench. - Q: What is the significance of the Pacers’ win in Game 3?
A: The Pacers’ win gives them a 2-1 lead in the series and historically, the winner of Game 3 in a tied NBA Finals series has gone on to win the championship 80.5% of the time. - Q: When is Game 4 of the NBA Finals?
A: Game 4 is scheduled for Friday night in Indiana. - Q: What was notable about TJ McConnell’s performance?
A: TJ McConnell finished with 10 points, five assists, and five steals, a feat that has never been achieved by a player coming off the bench in an NBA Finals game.
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