(INDIANA PACERS RELEASE)
The Indiana Pacers (2-1) retained home court advantage with a statement win over the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2) on Wednesday, taking a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals and pumping confidence throughout the basketball state.
The first Finals game the state of Indiana hosted since 2000 – 25 years ago – boasted a raucous crowd, torturous defense, and a breakthrough performance for a constantly overlooked and underrated Pacers team. On Friday, they look to do it again.
A last-second shot in Game 1 snatched home court advantage from the NBA regular season’s winningest team, and decisive effort in Game 3 retained it. Now, just two wins away from the franchise’s first NBA title, the Pacers have a litany of pressure points to push in Friday’s Game 4.
Indiana attempted just 27 3-point shots in Game 3, and connected on nine of them (33 percent). The Pacers shot 39 and 40 shots from beyond the arc in Games 1 and 2, respectively. A massive difference in their Game 1 victory (Indiana made 18 3-pointers to Oklahoma City’s 11), the 3-point shot looks to become critical in Game 4.
The Pacers were much more deliberate in their passing and possession of the basketball in the third meeting with the Thunder – they committed just 14 turnovers to Oklahoma City’s 19. Indiana committed 40 turnovers in the first two matchups, but emphasized their effort in those margins to create an advantage in the possession battle. That remains important for Friday’s chance at a 3-1 series lead.
Indiana’s wear-down effect is less potent in a series against a Thunder team that records a faster pace of play in the postseason, but it was fully effective in Wednesday’s Game 3. The Pacers involved Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in swaths of offensive actions, forcing the league MVP to work on both ends of the floor, and ultimately wearing him out. As they head into Game 4 – the only game of the series with just one day of rest – rest and recovery are vital to the Pacers’ ability to maintain that blistering pace and exhausting aggression.
Oklahoma City is 5-0 following a loss this postseason, but the Pacers look to snap that streak with a win on Friday evening. Returning to Oklahoma City with a 3-1 series lead would put Indiana in the driver’s seat for the series, speeding towards the Larry O’Brien trophy at the finish line.
Probable Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Thunder: G – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G – Cason Wallace, F – Jalen Williams, F – Luguentz Dort, C – Chet Holmgren
Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson – out (torn right Achilles tendon), Jarace Walker – out (right ankle sprain)
Thunder: Nikola Topic – out (left knee surgery)
Last Meeting
June 11, 2025: The Pacers put together a gritty defensive effort en route to a Game 3 win at home, 116-107.
The Pacers held the Thunder to just 18 points in the fourth quarter as they slammed the door on Game 3. Indiana lost the rebounding battle, the 3-point battle, and the free throw battle, but still found a way to take a 2-1 series lead behind three 20-point scorers.
After having no players eclipse the 20-point mark in Games 1 and 2, Tyrese Haliburton (22), Pascal Siakam (21), and Bennedict Mathurin (27) each recorded greater than 20 points in the series’ third contest.
The Pacers’ defense was the inflection point of Game 3 – they forced 19 Oklahoma City turnovers, recorded 11 blocked shots, and 13 steals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a quiet night by his standards as he scored just 24 points and committed six turnovers.
Jalen Williams led the Thunder in scoring with 26 points, and Mathurin’s 27 points off the bench led all scorers. Mathurin’s heroic play in Game 3 tied with Jalen Rose for most points off the bench in a playoff game in franchise history.
Noteworthy
Indiana is 3-0 in Game 4 in this playoffs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 5-0 following a loss this postseason.
Myles Turner overtook Jermaine O’Neal for the most playoff blocks in franchise history with his five blocks in Game 3. He has 124 blocked shots in the playoffs for his career.
Bennedict Mathurin became the first player with a 25-point game off the bench in the Finals since Jason Terry in 2011 on Wednesday.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ABC – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), Richard Jefferson (analyst), Jorge Sedano (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
