Pacers Stun Thunder in NBA Finals Game 3 with Huge Bench Performance

Pacers Flip the Script in Game 3 of the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals just got a lot more interesting after the Pacers pulled off a gutsy comeback against the Thunder in Game 3. Inside a packed home arena, Indiana snatched a 116-107 victory, giving them a 2-1 lead in the series and putting the once-favored Oklahoma City Thunder in hot water. The night wasn’t about the starting stars—it was the Indiana bench that shifted the momentum in dramatic fashion.

Trailing by five headed into the fourth quarter, the Pacers looked on the ropes. But then Bennedict Mathurin, coming off the bench, caught fire. He dropped 27 points, slicing through OKC defenders with impressive slashes and nailing a few ice-cold threes. Every big moment seemed to find Mathurin, and he delivered, breathing life into the crowd and his teammates.

If Mathurin’s buckets were the spark, T.J. McConnell was the motor. He crashed the OKC offense over and over, nabbing steals and pushing the pace. By the final buzzer, McConnell had made NBA Finals history, becoming the first bench player ever to put up at least 10 points, 5 steals, and 5 assists in a finals contest. His energy on both ends helped flip a game that had seemed firmly in Thunder control.

Thunder Searching for Answers After Late Collapse

The Oklahoma City Thunder looked sharp early and took a slim lead into the final quarter. Their stars scored reliably, and their defense held, until the game’s last act. That’s when the Pacers’ pressure ramped up and the Thunder’s offensive flow vanished. The usually smooth Thunder offense stumbled, missing key shots and giving away easy looks in transition. By the time the horn sounded, their grip on the series had slipped.

Thunder forward Jalen Williams addressed the loss with candor. He made it clear defense would decide the series, acknowledging that the team needs to sync up better—especially in the fourth when things get tight. Williams admitted that sometimes individual defense isn’t enough: “I can only do my part correctly, which is just make it tough for him,” he said before the game. That team mindset now faces a huge test.

Oklahoma City hasn’t won a championship since moving from Seattle in 2008, and the sense of urgency is building fast. With the Pacers now controlling the momentum, the Thunder need to adjust tactically—and emotionally—if they want to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole.

Everything’s on the line Friday, June 14, when the action returns to Indianapolis for Game 4. If there's any NBA drama left to unfold, this Finals matchup feels like it’s just getting started. And if the series keeps swinging like this, we might be looking at a Game 7 showdown stretching into late June.