Pacers take 2-1 series lead in the Finals
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Some things are worth the wait. After 25 long years, it was finally time for the NBA Finals to be played in Indianapolis again. The hype and build-up before the game was electric. The fans were loud and proud the entire night. And at the end of it all, the home team delivered. In one of the best pure basketball games of the season, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals.
Each team had two good quarters in this game. The Thunder landed the first punch and led 32-24 after one, but the Pacers punched back in the second quarter, winning those 12 minutes by a score of 40-28. The Thunder then started and ended the 3rd quarter with 6-0 runs to put themselves in the driver’s seat to win the game. As they’ve done so often in this post-season, the Pacers made the biggest plays down the stretch to earn the impressive victory.
“This is the kind of team we are,” said Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle. “We need everybody. This is how we’ve got to do it. It won’t always be the same guys every night.”
On this night, it was Bennedict Mathurin and TJ McConnell giving the Pacers everything they could possibly ask for. Mathurin, who didn’t play in the 1st Quarter, scored 14 points in the 2nd Quarter alone. He finished with 27 points in just 22 minutes, and gave this offense a different look at the perfect time.
“Just staying ready, whenever my number is called,” Mathurin said after the win. “This is my dream, but I also want to stay in the present moment, and trying to make sure my dream ends well with a championship.”
“He just made big play after big play,” Tyrese Haliburton said about his teammate. “That’s the great thing about the Finals and basketball, when you have a team with this much depth, it can be anybody’s night. I’m just so proud of the way he responded tonight.”
Haliburton had a huge night himself, with 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds. Every time the Pacers star is doubted, he steps up and leads the way. And the best part about Game 3, there was no drop-off when Haliburton got to rest. TJ McConnell did TJ McConnell things, and became the first player in NBA Finals history to score 10 points, with five assists and five steals off the bench. He had multiple inbound steals that ignited the home crowd, and took the life out of the team in blue. Role players often play better at home in the playoffs, and that has especially been the case in these last two games.
The Pacers did the things that got them here, with a total team effort. It was also Andrew Nembhard making things tough on the MVP (24 points on 20 shots for SGA). It was Myles Turner with a big bucket and multiple blocks down the stretch after battling an illness and not playing well for most of the night. It was Aaron Nesmith knocking down a massive three after previously having a quiet game. It was Pascal Siakam putting together a relatively quiet 21 point, six rebound, four assist night.
Now the stage is set for a massive Game 4 in Indianapolis on Friday night. The Thunder have already come back from a 2-1 deficit in the playoffs, and the Pacers still have a long way to go. Wednesday night’s game proved that the Pacers belong, and they can actually win this series. Can they find that killer instinct again and take a commanding 3-1 series lead? Much like the Pacers, OKC doesn’t lose consecutive games either. It’s only happened a few times all season. Then again, the Thunder were also 29-1 against the Eastern Conference this year, but still trail 2-1 in this series.
“This was a great game, but we have to turn the page quickly,” said Rick Carlisle. “There’s another game in like 36 hours. We have to move on.”
The Thunder have been much more human on the road in the playoffs. They are 4-4 away from home, and don’t have any dominating wins. They will have to win a game in Indiana to become champions, and while they are fully capable of doing so, the Pacers have the opportunity of a lifetime staring them right in the face. Win your home games, and win a title.
Indy, let’s do it again Friday night.
