![\"Indiana](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP25163098080473-1749707151.jpg\")
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals series [Abbie Parr\/AP]<\/p>\nReserve guards bag 49 points at home as the Pacers top the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3.<\/p>\n
Bennedict Mathurin has put on a game-changing performance in game three of the NBA Finals to help the Indiana Pacers out-duel the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.<\/p>\n
Fuelled by a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 22 points with nine rebounds and 11 assists, and a career playoff-high 27 points from reserve Mathurin, the Pacers showed a tremendous collective effort in Wednesday\u2019s Game 3.<\/p>\n
The Pacers bench outscored Oklahoma City\u2019s reserves 49-18 and Indiana wore down NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 24 points included just three in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many different guys chipped in,\u201d Haliburton told broadcaster ABC. \u201cBen Mathurin was amazing off the bench tonight. He just stuck with it. We just had guys make plays after plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for Indiana, and TJ McConnell added 10 points and five steals off the bench to help the Pacers improve to 10-0 since March 11 in games immediately after a defeat.<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals series [Abbie Parr\/AP]<\/p>\n
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle lauded the contributions of Mathurin and McConnell.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose guys were tremendous,\u201d Carlisle said. \u201cTJ just brought a will, competitive will, to the game. Mathurin jumped in there and immediately was aggressive and got the ball in the basket.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the kind of team that we are,\u201d Carlisle added. \u201cIt\u2019s not always going to be exactly the same guys that are stepping up with scoring and stuff like that. But this is how we\u2019ve got to do it, and we got to do it as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 22:24 minutes on court through the second and fourth quarters, Mathurin was brutally efficient, making two of his three three-point attempts and seven of eight free \u2013 throws, adding in four rebounds an assist and a blocked shot for good measure.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust staying ready,\u201d Mathurin said after the game. \u201cWhenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win \u2014 that\u2019s the whole mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mathurin is playing in the playoffs for the first time, after watching the Pacers\u2019 run to the Eastern Conference finals from the bench in the wake of season-ending surgery in March of 2024.<\/p>\n
Carlisle said , the 22-year-old Canadian was looking ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was with the team. He just wasn\u2019t playing,\u201d Carlisle recalled. \u201cHe took a lot of notes, a lot of mental notes, and he may have written some things down.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s putting a lot of work to be ready for these moments, and tonight he was an absolute major factor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mathurin said he was \u201cfortunate to learn a lot\u201d in what was an unfortunate situation last year but he admitted that it wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n
Playing in the finals, in front of the intense fans in Indianapolis, \u201cis a dream\u201d but one he doesn\u2019t want to get caught up in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not trying to live in my dream,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m trying to live in the present and make sure the dream ends well, which means winning the next game and winning a championship.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pacers will try to stretch their lead in the best-of-seven championship series when they host game four on Friday before the series heads back to Oklahoma City for game five on Monday.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfc6 GAME 3 FINAL SCORE \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n
Tyrese Haliburton leads a late @Pacers<\/a> charge at home to take a 2-1 series lead!<\/p>\n Mathurin: 27 PTS (playoff career high), 9-12 FGM Game 4: Fri., 8:30pm\/et, ABC pic.twitter.com\/dABbdKOkRR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n
Siakam: 21 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST
McConnell: 10 PTS, 5 AST, 5 STL
SGA: 24 PTS, 8 REB, 3 BLK<\/p>\n