The Indiana Pacers stormed back to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, taking a 2-1 series lead. Tyrese Haliburton delivered 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, but it was his composure and leadership that stole the spotlight in his postgame press conference.
“I’m just trying to play the right way,” Haliburton said. “It’s a child’s game. This means the world to me, but you don’t overreact—just enjoy what you’re doing.”
The Pacers trailed 15-6 early, prompting a timeout. “We had to wake up,” Haliburton noted. “We were playing a little antsy, but our second unit gave us energy.”
Bennedict Mathurin led the bench with 27 points in 22 minutes. “Ben was unbelievable, getting downhill and to the free-throw line,” Haliburton praised. “With our depth, it can be anybody’s night.”
Obi Toppin’s energy, including a highlight-reel putback dunk, ignited the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd. “Obi fits so perfect with what we do,” Haliburton said. “His pace and energy plays are huge for this building.”
T.J. McConnell also made history, becoming the first bench player in Finals history with 10 points, five assists, and five steals. “T.J.’s energy is unbelievable,” Haliburton said, jokingly calling him “The Great White Hope.”
Defensively, Haliburton stepped up against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, forcing a key travel. “Shai’s so slippery,” he said. “I had to clean up my coverages from Game 2 and stay at the level.”
The Pacers’ second unit outscored OKC’s bench 49-18, a testament to their depth. “We preach depth all year,” Haliburton emphasized. “Our bench was huge tonight.”
Despite external chatter about his scoring, Haliburton remains unfazed. “The talking heads? I couldn’t care less,” he said. “I’m focused on film and improving for Game 4.”
Indiana’s fourth-quarter surge, outscoring OKC 32-18, flipped the game. “No lead is safe in the NBA,” Haliburton said. “We took it one play at a time.”
The Pacers now hold historical momentum—teams winning Game 3 after a 1-1 Finals split win the title 80.5% of the time. With Game 4 looming Friday, Haliburton’s focus is clear: “We’re two wins away. One day at a time.”
