Benny & the Bench Bros: Pacers Stun Thunder to Snatch 2–1 NBA Finals Lead
Mathurin goes off, McConnell goes wild, and Indiana’s second unit turns Game 3 into a Gainbridge block party
Indiana’s Second Unit Serves Up Thunder-Stunning Show in Game 3
If you blinked, you probably missed the part where the Oklahoma City Thunder were actually winning.
Trailing by five to start the fourth, the Indiana Pacers’ bench said, “Nah, we’re not done here,” then dropped a 32–18 final-quarter haymaker that flipped Game 3 on its head and set the Pacers up for a serious tilt at their first-ever NBA title.
“We just had guys make plays after plays,” said Tyrese Haliburton post-game, trying to stay humble after nearly dropping a triple-double (22 pts, 11 ast, 9 reb).
But let’s be honest — this one belonged to Bennedict Mathurin (27 pts) and TJ McConnell (10 pts, 5 ast, 5 stl), who turned the Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a crime scene — because they stole that game right out of OKC’s hands.
Game 3 at a Glance
| Stat Category | Indiana Pacers | OKC Thunder |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 116 | 107 |
| Bench Points | 49 | 18 |
| 4th Quarter Points | 32 | 18 |
| Leading Scorer | Mathurin (27 pts) | Jalen Williams (26 pts) |
| Steals (McConnell alone) | 5 | Team OKC: 6 total |
| Series Score | 2–1 (Indiana leads) |
Bench Mob Bonanza
McConnell was everywhere. He pickpocketed Caruso, dished a dime to Mathurin, and even threw in a Euro-step layup that had the Gainbridge crowd chanting his name like he was Larry Bird reincarnated in high-tops.
Mathurin? Ice cold. His floater game was buttery, his corner three wetter than a Victorian long weekend, and his fourth quarter had the Thunder wishing he’d stayed on the pine.
Thunderstorm Fizzles Late
After looking sharp through three quarters, OKC’s wheels came flying off:
- Shot 35.3% in Q4
- 0-for-4 from deep
- 5 turnovers in crunch time
- Chet Holmgren? 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. Big man needs a GPS for that three-point line.
Despite Jalen Williams (26 pts), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 pts) and Holmgren (20 pts, 10 reb) putting in the work early, the Thunder got completely outworked by Indiana’s depth down the stretch.
Stat of the Night
Pacers are now 10–0 after a loss since mid-March. If you punch them, they don’t just punch back — they call in the whole bench brigade.
What’s Next?
Game 4 – Friday Night in Indy.
And just to up the stakes: NBA Finals teams that win Game 3 in a tied series go on to win the championship 80.5% of the time. Yep, history’s leaning Pacer blue and gold.
