NBA news: Indiana’s bench ignites Game 3 win - Pacers ahead in NBA Finals
The 2025 NBA Finals have turned into a battle of the benches, where in Game 3, Indiana’s second unit delivered a knockout blow to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Via a relentless showing from the reserves, the Pacers defended their home floor and claimed a 116-107 victory over OKC, clinching a 2-1 series lead.
Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo brings his analysis along with him to break down the events of Game 3.
Perception of OKC
Oklahoma City came into the Finals praised for its depth.
Throughout the playoffs, Alex Caruso’s defense and Cason Wallace’s flexibility (switching between bench and starting roles) had been pivotal.
But on Wednesday night, Indiana flipped the script with a 49 to 18 bench scoring advantage that changed the trajectory of the game and perhaps the series.
Game changer McConnell
No reserve had a more pronounced impact than T.J. McConnell.
Often a sparkplug off the bench, McConnell took control of the second quarter and never let go.
He recorded the first 10 point, 5 assist, and 5 steal performance by a reserve in NBA Finals history.
His signature energetic demeanor transformed the game’s pace, finding cracks in OKC’s tight defense before it could get set.
The Pacers trailed after the first quarter, but McConnell wasted no time turning things around.
He chased down offensive rebounds, disrupted inbounds plays (twice stealing the ball), and penetrated the lane with precision.
Where Indiana struggled to get into the paint earlier in the series, McConnell created those opportunities himself, then smartly kicked the ball out to open teammates when the defense collapsed on him.
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Bennedict Mathurin’s breakout moment
If McConnell was the engine, Bennedict Mathurin was the explosion.
The sophomore guard erupted for a playoff career-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc with 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
His performance marked the highest-scoring NBA Finals game by a reserve playing 22 minutes or fewer since Jason Terry in 2011.
Mathurin’s timing was flawless.
Cutting behind defenders who left him to help their teammates, making sharp decisions with the ball, and taking advantage of the space created by Tyrese Haliburton and McConnell’s aggression.
He capitalised on every breakdown. The Thunder had hoped to limit Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, but Mathurin forced them to reconsider that plan.
Obi Toppin’s electricity, Haliburton’s command
Obi Toppin didn’t fill the box score, but his impact was impossible to ignore.
His eight points came with a jolt of momentum, including a high-flying putback dunk that extended Indiana’s lead to seven, late in the fourth quarter.
Plays like that fed the roaring home crowd, who stood for the entire fourth quarter in the franchise’s first Finals game in Indianapolis since 2000.
Haliburton continued his steady leadership, finishing with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds.
He flirted with a triple-double and elevated the team’s composure down the stretch. Indiana is now 20-1 this season when Haliburton scores 20 or more and dishes out 10 or more assists.
Thunder’s turnovers and tactical missteps
For the Thunder, this game was a far cry from their typically poised performances.
Their 17 turnovers led to 21 Indiana points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander committed six of those, and OKC struggled to control the tempo - particularly during the second quarter when Indiana surged.
Their bench, usually a strength, faltered.
Aaron Wiggins, who was key in Game 2, went scoreless. Only three OKC reserves saw action in the final quarter.
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The team also lost its edge in hustle plays, often late to loose balls or second-chance opportunities.
Despite the loss, there are silver linings.
OKC has responded well to adversity throughout the postseason. They are 5-0 following losses and Gilgeous-Alexander is 6-0 in Game 4s with the Thunder, averaging 29.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in those contests.
This pattern mirrors their West Semifinal series against Denver, where they also fell behind 2-1 before evening the series.
Statistical context and historical pressure
History favours teams who take a 2 to 1 lead in the Finals.
Those teams go on to win the title nearly 80 percent of the time, with a 50-13 record.
A Pacers championship would be their first in the NBA (they have three in the ABA), and Game 4 now looms as a pivotal moment in franchise history.
The Thunder’s youth is both a blessing and a curse. It offers the elasticity to bounce back from losses but also leaves them prone to inconsistency.
If they want to avoid a 3-1 deficit (a margin that has only been overcome once in NBA Finals history), they will need to sharpen every facet of their game.
What to look out for in Game 4
Game 4, set once again in Indianapolis, could decide the tone of the remainder of the Finals.
If Indiana wins, they move within one win of a championship. If the Thunder bounce back, the series resets and heads back to Oklahoma City tied 2-2.
With both teams trading momentum, this is shaping up to be a Finals of fine margins, emotional swings, and defining moments.
Indiana’s bench made the loudest statement yet, but Game 4 will reveal whether it was an outburst or the beginning of a title march.
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