1-2 behind! The Thunder Three Young Master scored 72+24, Halliburton had a quasi-double, Turner set the first record in team history

Editor|Lao Kankanqiu

On June 12, the third game of the NBA 2024-25 season finals officially kicked off, and the Indiana Pacers returned to home court to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the first two games, the two teams each won one, with a big score of 1-1 to a draw. It is worth mentioning that this is the first time that the Pacers have held the finals at home since losing to the Lakers in the 2000 Finals, and it is indeed worthy of respect. However, judging from the first two games, the Pacers' hard strength is obviously at an absolute disadvantage. In the two games of 96 minutes, they only led by 1 minute and 56 seconds, including Halliburton's 0.3-second extreme kill in G1.

What is expected is what performance will the disadvantaged Pacers perform next? You should know that resilience is the most important characteristic of this Pacers. Since this year's playoffs, they have staged a big score reversal in four consecutive rounds of series. Moreover, after losing, they won all four games in the second game, and the rebound is obvious. Before the game, US media ESPN updated its winning rate forecast in real time: the Pacers' winning rate continues to grow to 44.8% (compared with G1 only 34.4%), while the Thunder's winning rate is 55.2%. Obviously, US media is still optimistic about the Thunder. In terms of starting lineup, on the Pacers, Isaiah Jackson and Jares Walker were absent, and the five-man teams lined up by the coach were: Halliburton, Turner, Nesmith, Siakam, and Nembhard; on the Thunder, Topic continued to be absent, and the starting lineup was: Alexander, Dort, Jewish, Chett, and Harten.

The first quarter officially started. Wallace broke through a wonderful pass and Dort made an open three-pointer. Chet also made three of 3 shots and scored 8 points in a row. The Thunder took the lead 15-6 at the beginning and stopped the Pacers. Siakam made a single point Alexander, hit the extreme jump shot from the free throw line, winning all the Pacers' scores. Caruso counterattacked and sent a wonderful pass from the attack. Chet received the ball and glided and dunked, and had already scored 12 points. Halliburton rushed straight into the penalty area, made a high-arc throw and immediately returned. After Dort jumped up and passed the ball, he elbowed Halliburton in the face in the downward movement. The latter covered his face and fell to the ground in great pain. The referee did not give any punishment, which was a bit outrageous. Alexander accelerated the breakthrough in the midfield, European steps passed Turner and Tomplain made a layup with his left hand. Tomplain also used European steps to shake off Hatten, made a silky layup, and responded immediately. After the first quarter, the Pacers trailed the Thunder by 8 points 24-32. In the first quarter, Alexander made 2 of 6 shots, 2 of 2 free throws scored 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.

Back in the second quarter, Chett took off the free throw line and tried to dunk it, but unfortunately he was fouled. McConnell made a wonderful pass by Nesmith and cut it. Then he actively completed the steal in the frontcourt. Mathering received the ball and hit another three-pointer, and the Pacers narrowed the gap to 1 point. Alexander broke through the box and still made a blacksmith. Matherin resisted Alexander at the basket and hit the board again, scoring 9 points in a single quarter, and the Pacers scored 15-4 and overtook the Thunder for 3 points. After Isaiah Joe came on as a substitute, he made three-pointers in a row, breaking the team's scoring drought. Jewe made a strong 2+1 against Siakam, and the Thunder equalized the score. The latter was replaced by his third foul. Mathering cut the basket and scored 2+1, scored 14 points in 5 of 6 shots in a single quarter. Alexander changed his rhythm and scored against Halliburton. McConnell took a step back and made a buzzer-beater jump shot. At the end of the half, the Pacers led the Thunder 64-60 by 4 points.

Half-court data, on the Thunder, Alexander made 5 of 11 shots, 2 of 2 free throws, scored 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks; Jewe made 3 of 6 free throws, 5 of 7 free throws, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal; Chet made 4 of 7 free throws, 7 of 8 free throws, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.

The Pacers, Halliburton made 5 of 8, 2 of 3 three-pointers, scored 12 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 1 block; Matherin made 5 of 6, 1 of 1 of 3-pointers, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block; Siakam made 5 of 8, 3 free throws, 3 of 4 free throws, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.

The change of sides and the fight was again, Alexander took a step and hit the mid-range, and the Thunder started with an 8-0 attack wave to overtake the score. Halliburton stole Alexander easily dunked in the middle, and then moved forward again with Chet's three-pointer. The Pacers once again scored a three-point lead. Caruso made a key three-pointer against the counterattack and tied it again. Chett cut the baseline with his hands and flew into 2+1. Jevi made a steadily three-pointer from the top of the arc and scored 20 points. After the third quarter, the Thunder led the Pacers 89-84 by 5 points into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, Mathering went straight into the penalty area and made a difficult start to hit the board. McConnell predicted the opponent's pass at the bottom line, actively steal and layup, and the Pacers overtook 3 points. Chet made a breakthrough layup and was blocked by Turner's long arm. Halliburton made another hit with a knife from outside the three-point line, and the Pacers led to 7 points. Javier broke through and was hit by a big hat on the piercing board. Caruso broke Halliburton one-on-one life, and the counterattack was pulled down by Nesmith's fierce foul. The referee looked back and called a normal foul. Toppling rushed to the basket with all his strength, and the force of the sub-dunk made a big dunk. The Pacers led to 8 points, and there was no suspense in the game. In the end, the Pacers defeated the Thunder 116-107 and led 2-1 with a big score. In terms of data, on the Thunder, Alexander made 9 of 20 shots, scored 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 6 turnovers; Jewe contributed 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal; Chett scored 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, and the Thunder three young men scored 72 points and 24 rebounds.

On the Pacers, Halliburton made 9 of 17 shots, scored 22 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, quasi-double data; Siakam scored 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; Nesmith scored 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 blocks; Turner scored 9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 blocks, becoming the Pacers' block king in the history of the playoffs, setting the first record in team history.