Pacers take 2-1 lead in NBA Finals as Tyrese Haliburton nears triple-double against Thunder

Nick Wright joins Colin Cowherd to break down the Indiana Pacers’ chances of competing with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Do the Pacers have enough firepower to keep up with OKC’s dynamic squad?

The Indiana Pacers took full advantage of the homecourt, pulling away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-107, in Game 3. 

Indiana owns a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals series after stealing Game 1 thanks to Tyrese Haliburton’s heroic last-second jumper to win it 111-110. 

And after a mediocre performance for the Pacers in Game 2, Haliburton turned it up from three-point territory to lead the way for Indiana.

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Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) passes the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the third quarter in game three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

Haliburton finished the game with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including four made threes. He was also one rebound away from a triple-double after tallying 11 assists. On the defensive end, Haliburton also had two steals and one block. 

But this series has proven to be one that requires bench depth to show out, and Pacers guard Benedict Mathurin was up for the challenge.

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Mathurin dropped 27 points, leading the Pacers in that category after going a highly efficient 9-of-12 from the field with 7-of-8 made free throws over 22 minutes of work. He also had four rebounds and one assist for his squad. 

Pascal Siakam was also in the 20-point club, going 8-of-14 from the field with 5-of-6 made free throws for 21 points