The NBA Finals have been a spectacle this year, with two of the NBA's best young teams squaring off in an epic battle for the title. Coming in as the underdogs, the Indiana Pacers are savoring their unlikely rise to power, but many fans are still coming to grips with their success and the fact that they now stand just two wins away from their first NBA championship.
Tonight was another impressive performance from the Pacers, who proved that their Game 1 victory was not a fluke. With 116 points, the Pacers shot 51.8% from the field to beat the Thunder by nine (116-107) and take a 2-1 series lead. Despite an impressive first quarter (where they scored 32 points) and a run in the final stretch, Oklahoma City couldn't keep up with their competition tonight, costing them the game and ultimately worsening their chances to win the series.
In line with the theme this postseason, Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the show with 11 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists on 52.9% shooting. He had help from Pascal Siakam, who put up 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 57.1% shooting. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tried in vain to stave off defeat with 24 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 45.0% shooting. Jalen Williams also contributed an impressive stat line of 26 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 50.0% shooting.
On social media, fans were buzzing with reactions to the game. While this year's Finals feature two small-market teams, fans agreed after Game 3 that this series has been highly entertaining in every game so far.
"It’s been great hoops so far, I can’t lie," wrote one fan on the high-quality basketball on display.
Tonight, the key to the Pacers' victory was their consistent and even pace throughout the game, which was maintained by good conditioning that had them outworking the opposition all night.
"Is Indiana’s greatest attribute their conditioning? This is just remarkable to watch them out working and out hustling the Thunder," a fan posted on X. "Haven’t ever seen OKC look tired."
More than anything, fans were calling on the people to respect Haliburton's game and acknowledge the Pacers as one of the best teams in the world right now.
"Y’all gon learn to respect Hali and the Pacers one way or another. Dawgs. All of them. The hunger, the passion, the refusal to lie down. They play the right way," wrote one fan on X.
The mood was understandably worse among Thunder fans, who expressed major disapproval of their team's performance. Chet Holmgren, in particular, has looked completely lost in the three games so far, and he shot just 40% from the field in tonight's contest.
"This has been a really bad showing by the Thunder so far this series," wrote one fan. "Chet has been so bad it’s hard to put it into words."
The Thunder still have a chance to gain control of the series, but all of the momentum is with the Pacers now, who continue to prove everyone wrong with every win.
"What a special team, dude. Defensively so improved from last year; I had no idea they ranked so high. Incredibly deep. Really cool to see," one fan posted on X after the game.
This Finals series is far from over, and we've seen teams come back from larger deficits before. If the Thunder rally on the road for Game 4, they can still win the championship, but the margin for error is slim, and the odds are stacked against them. Meanwhile, the Pacers are better than they've ever been and are firing on all cylinders as they prepare for another game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday.
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