Pacers Take Down Thunder in Game 3—And Man, It Wasn’t Even Close
Man, what a game. The Indiana Pacers just straight-up bullied the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, cruising to a 112-98 win. Now they’re up 2-1 in the series, and honestly? The momentum’s all theirs. Let’s break it down—because this wasn’t just a win, it was a statement.
Game Recap: Pacers Showed Up, Thunder… Didn’t
Final Score & The Numbers That Matter
Pacers shot 48% from the field—solid, but not crazy. The real story? They held OKC to just 41%. Ouch. Tyrese Haliburton did his usual thing (24 points, 10 assists), but Myles Turner was the quiet killer with 18 and 9. Meanwhile, the Thunder? 15 turnovers and bricking threes like it was their job (29%). Not ideal.
When the Game Actually Ended (Hint: It Wasn’t the 4th Quarter)
Third quarter, man. That’s when the Pacers dropped a 15-2 run and basically said, “Yeah, we’re done here.” Aaron Nesmith had this ridiculous dunk—like, poster material—and Haliburton hit back-to-back threes. After that? Game over. Crowd went nuts, Thunder looked lost. You could see it in their body language.
How Indiana Grabbed This Series By the Throat
Defense? More Like “No Chance”
Here’s the thing—the Pacers switched everything, and OKC had no answer. Andrew Nembhard was glued to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all night (held him to 19 points on 6-of-18 shooting). No easy buckets, no rhythm. Just frustration.
Ball Movement So Smooth It Hurt
28 assists. Twenty. Eight. That’s not just good, that’s “make the extra pass even when you’re open” levels of unselfish. Haliburton ran the show, Turner spaced the floor, and guys like T.J. McConnell (12 points off the bench) brought that scrappy energy. You love to see it.
Rick Carlisle Outcoached Everyone (Again)
Small ball with Nesmith at the 4? Genius. Sticking with McConnell’s defense in crunch time? Even smarter. Meanwhile, the Thunder’s coaching staff looked like they were trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. No adjustments, no answers.
What We Learned Last Night
Thunder Have Some Serious Problems
Shai couldn’t buy a bucket, and outside of Jalen Williams (21 points), nobody stepped up. Their defense—usually their strength—was a step slow all night. Like they were playing in sand.
Pacers’ Secret Weapon? Depth.
Haliburton’s the star, but Nesmith (14 points, 3 steals) was everywhere. Bench mob outscored OKC’s reserves by 12. That’s the difference in a playoff series.
Where This Series Goes From Here
Pacers are up 2-1, and they’ve got all the momentum. If OKC can’t figure out how to get Shai going—or stop Indiana’s ball movement—this could be over fast.
What Needs to Happen in Game 4
Pacers: Just Do It Again
Keep defending like their lives depend on it. Move the ball. Attack OKC’s shaky perimeter D. If Haliburton stays hot? 3-1 lead incoming.
Thunder: Panic Time?
They’ve got to get Shai easier looks—maybe more post-ups or early offense. Defensively? Stop the bleeding. Force isolations. Do something.
Final Thought: The Pacers aren’t just winning—they’re imposing their will. If they keep playing like this? Yeah, they might just shock everyone. But hey, never count out the Thunder. Game 4’s gonna be must-watch TV. Who you got winning it? Drop your takes below.
Source: ESPN – News
