The Indiana Pacers made a statement today, winning Game 3 on the road and putting themselves in great position to upset the Thunder. Their bench players really stepped up! The final tally showed an impressive 49-18 lead in bench points as the depth of the Pacers’ roster was on full display. This win puts Indiana in an intimidatingly strong position within the series to be sure, though they now look to build off their early momentum.
At only 22 years of age, Benedict Mathurin became the breakout star of the series and the biggest outlier to score more than 25 points in the Finals. He joins an elite group of players. This very exclusive club features NBA greats such as Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson, all of whom accomplished this exceptional feat at a very young age. Mathurin’s contributions helped power the Pacers to one of the league’s biggest success stories, potentially making him a breakout star and nominee for rookie of the year.
In addition to Mathurin’s performance, Jalen Williams from the Thunder led his team with 26 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 24 points and Chet Holmgren contributed 20 points. Overall, it was an admirable effort. The Thunder could only attempt to contain the offensive cyclone that was the Pacers’ second unit.
Tyrese Haliburton was a major factor in the game, notching 11 assists and 9 rebounds. His energy and talent were fully on display in his ability to build up plays and manufacture scoring chances all match. Haliburton expressed his enthusiasm for the home crowd, stating:
“We just had guys make plays after plays.” – Tyrese Haliburton
The game itself was very closely contested, with 15 ties and 17 lead changes as both teams fought tooth and nail for control. It was the Pacers’ ability to capitalize on their advantage in bench strength that proved decisive. Pascal Siakam’s 21 points were crucial in having consistent contributors who kept Toronto’s offensive pace going.
“Amazing. Amazing. We love playing in front of our fans. We love being here.” – Tyrese Haliburton
Specifically, Jason Terry, Manu Ginobili, and Fred Brown have each made their mark, leading all scorers in points from the bench in a Finals game. This visionary accomplishment is almost an anomaly since 1971. With Mathurin’s recent achievement, he joins this exclusive group of players who have made significant impacts in high-stakes playoff situations.
Notably, Jason Terry, Manu Ginobili, and Fred Brown are among those who have previously led in points off the bench during a Finals game since 1971. With Mathurin’s recent achievement, he joins this exclusive group of players who have made significant impacts in high-stakes playoff situations.
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