Mathurin’s Spark Off the Bench Lifts Pacers in Pivotal Finals Clash
Usually, NBA Finals heroics come from superstar starters. But for Indiana fans packed into Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Bennedict Mathurin turned that script upside down. Dropping 27 points off the bench—hitting an eye-popping 9 of his 12 shots and splashing in two crucial threes—Mathurin injected life and grit into a Pacers squad that needed every bit of it in Game 3. He wasn’t just scoring; he set the tone for an Indiana offense that thrived on aggressive drives and hustle plays, especially as the Thunder clawed back repeatedly throughout the night.
The Pacers bench, long seen as their X-factor during these playoffs, became the difference-maker. Mathurin poured in 14 of his points before halftime, helping Indiana weather several Thunder runs, particularly as OKC built early momentum behind Jalen Williams’ relentless 26-point attack. With the Thunder clinging to home-court advantage throughout much of the first two games (thanks to a jaw-dropping 68-14 regular season), Game 3 in Indy instantly felt like the series’ turning point.
Historic Stakes Fuel Intensity as Series Shifts
Let’s talk history—because this matchup isn’t just about today’s stars. The Indiana Pacers have never hung an NBA championship banner. Their fans still remember the heartbreak of Reggie Miller’s battles in the late ’90s and the bitterness of coming close but not close enough. Sure, the Pacers can claim three old-school ABA crowns from the 1970s, but the NBA trophy has always remained out of reach. For this passionate basketball city, being up 2-1 in the NBA Finals unlocks a feeling of hope and excitement they haven’t felt in decades.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the other hand, live with their own kind of nostalgia. While the franchise won its lone title back in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics, the modern Thunder have yet to taste that ultimate victory. With a young core that blitzed the league all season, anchored by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and breakout performances like Williams’, most expected them to cruise to the Finals. This series, though, has reminded everyone just how razor-thin that line between champion and heartbreak really is.
With Game 4 looming (set for June 13 back in Indianapolis), every possession gets magnified. The Pacers will look to ride the momentum—and their wild home fans—to a commanding lead. Meanwhile, the Thunder, still stinging from this latest slip, need their stars to shake off the disappointment and reclaim control fast if they want this series to return to Oklahoma tied up.
- Series: Pacers lead 2-1
- Next Game: June 13, 2025, Indianapolis
- Where to Watch: Streaming live on fubo
Hoosiers haven’t celebrated like this in years. The Thunder are hungry to spoil the party. This Finals matchup? Suddenly, it feels like it could go anywhere.
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