Indiana Pacers continue to shock the NBA, set historic marks in Finals vs Thunder after Game 3 win

The Indiana Pacers delivered a much-needed win to stay alive in the NBA Finals, knocking off the team that had been the league’s most dominant all season. With Wednesday night’s 116–107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana now leads the series 2–1 and continues to make history in front of its home crowd.

Game 3 was a statement performance from the Pacers, who controlled much of the contest without ever pulling away by a wide margin. Despite never leading by more than nine points at any time, Indiana imposed its rhythm and composure on the Thunder, using efficient offense and tough-minded defense to hold serve at home.

Indiana’s ability to close games under pressure has been one of its defining traits. Once again, the Pacers banked on a strong fourth quarter to pull away, frustrating Oklahoma City down the stretch. Through three games in the Finals, they have yet to hold a double-digit lead—a rare feat that landed them a spot in the NBA record books.

According to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, via research from Sportradar, the Pacers are the first team since the 1978 Seattle SuperSonics to lead an NBA Finals series after three games without ever leading by 10 or more. That ’78 Sonics team eventually lost in seven to the Washington Bullets—an outcome Indiana hopes to avoid.

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Tyrese Haliburton once again played a pivotal role, flirting with a triple-double. The All-Star guard finished with 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds while shooting 9-for-17 from the field. Pascal Siakam added 21 points, providing the scoring balance Indiana needed to keep the Thunder off-balance for most of the night.

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Few teams in NBA history have shown the kind of poise under pressure that the 2025 Pacers continue to demonstrate. Facing adversity throughout the playoffs, they have remained calm and focused—traits that now have them two wins away from the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship.

As noted by NBA statistician Keerthika Uthayakumar, Indiana also became just the third fourth-seeded team to win Game 3 of the Finals and take a 2–1 series lead. The last team to do so was the 1995 Houston Rockets, who went on to win the title as a six-seed—the lowest-seeded champion in NBA history.

The first to accomplish that milestone was the 1978 SuperSonics, who ultimately fell short in the series. For these Pacers, that’s a historical footnote they’ll look to avoid repeating as they prepare for a pivotal Game 4 with the chance to seize full control of the series.