Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Basketball
NBA
Toronto Raptors
Explosive scorer from Quebec had his breakout, while Ontario's Nembhard frustrated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inboxSign Up
Published Jun 12, 2025 • 4 minute read
Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Getty Images
Article content
A stunning comeback in Game 1, an expected retaliatory beatdown from a juggernaut in Game 2 and, on Wednesday night, an impressive Pacers win in the biggest game in Indianapolis since 2000.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
What a fun NBA Finals it has been — with plenty still to come.
Article content
Article content
For the first time ever, a Canadian has led these huge games in scoring each time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doing it twice was expected. But Bennedict Mathurin? Well, not so much.
The Montrealer was massive in Game 3, scoring 27 points in 22 minutes, missing only three of his 12 shot attempts.
Mathurin had totalled 19 over the first two games, but always is a threat to go on a scoring binge, even if doing it to this extent under the brightest of lights seemed like a bit of a stretch.
While Indiana’s stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam led the way, Mathurin and Aurora, Ont.’s Andrew Nembhard also were crucial contributors in the 116-107 win.
SGA might be the headliner and teammate Lu Dort probably is the best defender in the series, but Indy’s Canucks have put their stamp on the series already as well.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Loading...
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Play Video
Mathurin, the highest draft pick on the Pacers at sixth overall, didn’t even get on the floor in the opening quarter Wednesday, Indiana’s worst quarter of the game. But he was the main factor in a 40-point, 61% shooting second for the hosts, hitting 5-of-6 shots for 14 points — twice as many as any other player.
Even against some of the NBA’s best defenders (like Dort, Alex Caruso, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace) Mathurin’s aggressiveness was too much for the mighty Thunder. Mathurin got four layups in the second quarter alone, along with three free throws, and kept the Thunder off balance by also pulling up for a mid-range two-pointer and hitting a three-pointer.
And he was there again to turn the tide in the fourth after a quiet third. In the final frame, Mathurin again went off , this time for 10 points.
Advertisement 4
Article content
He got back in attack mode, driving into the paint and gave the Pacers the jolt needed to again stun the Thunder.
It was the fourth time Mathurin has scored at least 20 in these playoffs.
UNDER THE RADAR
Meanwhile, Nembhard — taken 31st in 2022 after Indiana had snapped up Mathurin early — bothered his old friend Gilgeous-Alexander basically from the opening tip.
They’ve played with each other for years and sometimes against, but there are no friends on the court and Nembhard appears to be a rare player that knows how to frustrate the usually calm, collected scoring assassin.
Nembhard was quiet statistically, but had a big impact in the game and only Haliburton played more minutes for the Pacers.
Team Canada is lucky to have two-way players like Nembhard, Dort, Dillon Brooks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who relentlessly come at you defensively, while also being able to heat up at the other end.
Advertisement 5
Article content
SELECT COMPANY
If the Pacers complete the stunner and win it all, Rick Carlisle would join a pretty select list of head coaches to win an NBA title with two different franchises.
Carlisle previously led the Mavericks to the 2011 championship in an epic upset over Miami. Phil Jackson is the name that jumps to mind (six rings with Chicago, five with Los Angeles), Pat Riley also did it (four with the Lakers, one when he took over mid-season for Stan Van Gundy and won with the Heat), and old-timer Alex Hannum led St. Louis, Philadelphia (and Oakland in the ABA) to titles.
Carlisle also led Detroit to consecutive 50-win seasons before being replaced by Larry Brown, who won it all with the Pistons the next year (getting by Carlisle’s Pacers in the conference final in the process).
Advertisement 6
Article content
Carlisle already is one of only five head coaches to lead different franchises to the Finals (Brown and Bill Fitch are also on the list with Jackson and Riley).
Additionally, should Indiana win, Siakam would become the fifth player from the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors to have rings with two different franchises, joining Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Patrick McCaw and Chris Boucher.
Read More
[Demarcus Cousins was involved in a heated confrontation with fans during a game in Puerto Rico.
Former NBA all-star banned from Puerto Rican team after wild brawl with fans](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/demarcus-cousins-banned-after-wild-brawl-fans)
2. [Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard during Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC Thunder recalibrated and have Pacers in trouble](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/shai-gilgeous-alexander-thunder-recalibrated)
STATS PACK
As always, plenty of intriguing stats came out of the game. Here are some of our favourites:
-Mathurin joined Kawhi, LeBron, Kobe and Tony Parker as players 22 or under to score at least 25 in a Finals game since 2000.
Advertisement 7
Article content
-It was the most points by a reserve since Jason Terry (also coached by Carlisle) in 2011.
-Indiana has not yet trailed in a series in these playoffs.
-From Keerthika Uthayakumar: “The Indiana Pacers are up 2-1 in the NBA Finals. They’ve only led for 10.7% of game time (20.6 minutes). Their largest lead of the series is 9.”
-There were 15 ties in the game. Per AP’s Tim Reynolds, last year’s Finals between Boston and Dallas only had 13 ties, total.
Finally, this one is incredible: Oklahoma City only lost to an Eastern Conference team once all season (Cleveland on January 8). They’ve already fallen twice to Indiana in three games.
@WolstatSun
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments
Featured Local Savings