Hasn’t the basketball world learned by now that writing the Indiana Pacers off is a fool’s errand?
Led by a monster 22-point, 11-assist near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers proved that basketball reigns in Indiana, dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead when most had considered the series a write-off when the Conference Finals were said and done.
Game-winner after game-winner, upset after upset, response after response, the Pacers have always stepped up as soon as people start to count them out. From Tyrese Haliburton getting voted most overrated player in the league to then turning in an all-world performance throughout the post-season, to crushing the the East-leading Cavaliers in five games, to silencing the raucous Madison Square Garden, to now turning the tables on the Thunder after a crushing Game 2 loss, the Pacers refuse to go quietly into that goodnight.
It was a complete performance from the Pacers as they played fearlessly on both ends of the ball, got contributions throughout their lineup, and their stars stepped up in big ways. They beat the Thunder at their own game, one-upped them, answered every run and held steady through the adversity.
In 1965, the late-great Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys heard Rubber Soul by The Beatles for the first time. It was an album that changed everything he knew about music and altered every goal he had for his own career in the industry. He wanted nothing more than to create, to build on what his compatriots from across the pond had made, to make a statement of his own. He wanted to be as good as them, if not better.
In 1966, they released their masterpiece Pet Sounds, one of the most innovative, influential and crucial albums of all time.
That’s the sort of response the Pacers put together on Wednesday night, using every single instrument at their disposal, making music out of whatever they could muster, harmonizing perfectly and completely changing the narrative in this series.
They’re not just a pop band anymore, the Pacers have embraced psychedelic rock and Haliburton is moving around the court like colours in a kaleidoscope. The guard is inserting his name into a conversation amongst greats, and his team is shutting down a Thunder team previously deemed inevitable. They’re here to stay, and God only knows what comes next in these Finals.
Pacers’ bench brings the energy
Though the Pacers’ star players had some solid nights, with Pascal Siakam‘s 21 points and Haliburton’s gaudy line, the ones who really set the tone for Indiana came off the bench.
Their depth has been a strong point all season long, particularly through the playoffs as they outmanned teams like the Knicks and Cavaliers in wars of attrition. And while it was expected that the Thunder would be able to compete in that facet, the Pacers’ second unit ran amok in this one.
T.J. McConnell finished with 10 points, five assists and five steals, and played like he was in the middle of a mosh-pit, darting all over the floor, getting into everyone’s face, jumping passing lanes, forcing turnovers and showing a complete disregard for any defender in front of him. He might be the smallest dog in the kennel, but his bite is ferocious.
Montreal native Bennedict Mathurin was the exact microwave scorer Indiana needed off the bench, netting 14 points in the second quarter alone on smart cuts, athletic drives and just some wicked shotmaking. He then iced the outing in the fourth, scoring 10 more en route to his game-high 27 on the night. He did so on obscene efficiency as well, shooting nine-of-12 from the field in only 22 minutes.
Complementing that dynamic duo were Obi Toppin — who had eight points and some high-energy defence and transition play — and sophomore wing Ben Sheppard, who played with effort while guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, finishing with two steals on the night.
To beat the Thunder’s eight-to-10-man rotation, the Pacers needed everybody to chip in. That’s exactly what they got.
They also did so at the expense of OKC’s depth. The usually steady Alex Caruso finished with a game-low -15 plus-minus and a series-low eight points, Aaron Wiggins, after 18 points in Game 2, finished with a big donut beside his name despite playing 10 minutes and backup big Isaiah Hartenstein was routinely hunted on Indiana’s pick-and-roll sets. Overall, the Pacers won the bench battle 49-18, eclipsing the Thunder’s 48-24 win in Game 2.
Turnovers silence the Thunder
Coming into the NBA Finals, the Thunder had won the turnover battle 14 of 16 times throughout these playoffs. They’ve now lost it twice.
The Pacers aren’t some ordinary team when it comes to ball security. They turned it over 13.2 times per game in the regular season, the third-lowest mark. They’re also led by Haliburton, one of the smartest and most efficient primary playmakers the league has seen. But what’s interesting about Indiana is how much they move the ball, how their scoring is predicated on swinging the rock, though they just never seem to turn it over.
After an ugly Game 1 that saw them turn it over 24 times, the Pacers have ratcheted up their offence, keeping a cool head and making the smart passes that come to them — finding cutters, running pick-and-roll with the steady-handed Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam, and moving it around the perimeter. That safety and efficiency kept their head above water in this one and made sure Thunder runs didn’t turn into avalanches.
The same can’t be said for Oklahoma City.
In an unusual showing, the Thunder turned the ball over 19 times, including six from Gilgeous-Alexander — the most he’s had since Dec. 28, 2024. The Pacers’ defence pestered OKC’s ball-handlers, forcing them into ugly possessions. They pressured hard full-court, made the necessary adjustments to muddle up the Thunder’s half-court offence and McConnell had three steals off inbounds. They gave the Thunder a taste of their own medicine.
What stands out most, though, is how well they gamplanned around SGA in this one. The MVP is the lynchpin of the Thunder’s half-court offence, and with Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith picking him up full-court before he can get into his spots and surgically break them down in the half, they slowed down the Thunder’s offence entirely. And once he did get his time and space to work on offence, they found ways to shade him and prevent his usually surgical drives.
Though he still finished with 24 points, it was never a matter of stopping him entirely, just slowing him down. And the Pacers did just that on Wednesday.
It’s rare to see him have a sloppy game, and the Hamilton native always seems to bounce back stronger after a loss, so don’t expect this to be who he is going forward. Knowing Gilgeous-Alexander, he’ll relish the chance to solve this puzzle as well.
More from Sportsnet Pacers’ Pascal Siakam facing ultimate test in Game 3 of NBA FinalsCaitlin Clark, Reggie Miller, Oscar Robertson among stars at Game 3 of NBA Finals
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( NBA Finals Takeaways: Pacers reshape narrative with Game 3 win )
Also on site :