Indiana Pacers’ Stunning Playoff Surge: How the NBA Underdogs Are Rewriting 2025 Championship Odds

A fast-finishing Indiana Pacers squad rode fourth-quarter fury and bench firepower to a 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, grabbing a 2-1 lead in the 2025 NBA Finals and moving two wins from the first championship in franchise history. Tyrese Haliburton shook off a slow series start with 22 points, 11 assists and nine boards, while sixth-man Bennedict Mathurin exploded for a game-high 27 on 9-of-12 shooting. Indiana’s second unit outscored OKC’s reserves 49-18, a gap that proved decisive. Pascal Siakam chipped in 21 points, and T.J. McConnell delivered a vintage 15-minute cameo of 10 points, five assists and five steals. The Pacers trailed 89-84 entering the final period but unleashed a 32-18 closing burst fueled by relentless ball pressure and transition attacks. McConnell’s in-bounds thefts jump-started the run, Obi Toppin’s thunderous put-back dunk ignited Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and Myles Turner’s late chase-down block snuffed OKC’s last push. Oklahoma City squandered 47.6 percent three-point shooting by coughing up 19 turnovers. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points; MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed 24 but committed six giveaways, and rookie center Chet Holmgren posted 20 points and nine boards. KEY NUMBERS • Bench differential: IND 49, OKC 18 • Points off turnovers: IND 25, OKC 12 • Fourth-quarter FG%: IND 57.9, OKC 38.1 WHY THE PACERS’ OFFENSE FINALLY CLICKED Game 3 marked Indiana’s first 40-point quarter of the series. Head coach Rick Carlisle staggered lineups to keep at least two creators on court, attacked early in the shot clock, and empowered Mathurin to hunt mismatches against Oklahoma City’s smaller guards. The Pacers also pushed pace after makes, forcing the Thunder’s half-court defense to scramble. DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS Indiana ditched heavy drop coverage for more switch-heavy looks, shrinking driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander. Turner hedged and recovered, Haliburton showed active hands on passing lanes, and Caruso-esque ball denial from Nesmith limited OKC spot-ups. The Thunder shot just 1-of-6 from deep in the fourth. LOOKING AHEAD TO GAME 4 Game 4 tips Friday, June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, again in Indianapolis. Teams winning Game 3 of a tied NBA Finals have captured the series 73 percent of the time. For OKC, higher volume from deep and cleaner ball security are non-negotiables. For Indiana, duplicating the bench energy and keeping Haliburton aggressive will be pivotal. INJURY WATCH • Thunder: No new injuries reported, though Lu Dort appeared to tweak an ankle late; he’s expected to play. • Pacers: Andrew Nembhard (hamstring) remains day-to-day; he dressed but did not play in Game 3. SEO SPOTLIGHT: WHAT FANS ARE SEARCHING • “Indiana Pacers NBA Finals schedule 2025” – Game 4 date, start time and TV info included above. • “Tyrese Haliburton Game 3 highlights” – Haliburton’s near triple-double underscored his All-NBA leap. • “Pacers vs Thunder Game 4 tickets” – limited seats remain via official resale sites. • “NBA Finals history Pacers” – Indiana’s lone previous Finals trip came in 2000; this group is rewriting the record book. BOTTOM LINE The Pacers have seized momentum by rediscovering their identity—speed, depth and opportunistic defense—at the exact right moment. If Haliburton’s swagger and the bench brigade travel into Game 4, Indianapolis may soon be planning a parade route.