Magic Johnson’s Strong Message to Tyrese Haliburton After NBA Finals Game 3 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Pacers delivered a hard-fought victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, leading the series 2-1 and protecting their homecourt advantage. Both teams exchanged leads throughout, but the Pacers managed to hold on, limiting the Thunder superstar and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just three points in the fourth quarter.
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Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton has been one of the defining figures in this series so far. He delivered a clutch jumper, banking in a pull-up from 21 feet with just 0.3 seconds on the clock to steal Game 1 in Oklahoma City.
While he was limited to 17 points and six assists in Game 2, Haliburton bounced back at home in Game 3, with a near-triple‑double, finishing with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds in a statement 116‑107 win.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0).Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Following Wednesday night’s game, NBA Legend Magic Johnson appeared on ESPN’s First Take, alongside Stephen A. Smith and Molly Querim to discuss a host of topics. During a segment on the show, the former Los Angeles Lakers point guard urged Haliburton to raise his scoring output.
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“What he’s gotta do, Stephen A and Molly, is understand what he has to do to help the Pacers beat OKC,” Johnson said. “You can’t just have 15 assists and 12 points. That’s not enough. You gotta score in this series.”
Johnson drew parallels to his own Finals era, noting that while playmaking is essential, Haliburton must also assert himself with consistent scoring and tempo-setting, much like he did against the Celtics in the 1980s.
The Pacers will hope Haliburton can elevate his scoring game as they continue the chase for their first NBA title on Friday.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.