The Indiana Pacers moved one step closer to their first NBA title Wednesday night. They secured a 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Bennedict Mathurin exploded for a game-high 27 points in just 22 minutes on 12 shot attempts. He became the youngest player since 1970-71 to score 25+ points off the bench in a Finals game. His aggressive scoring helped the Pacers erase a five-point fourth-quarter deficit.
It was a major bounce-back showing for the 22-year-old swingman, who has endured an up-and-down postseason. After scoring just five points in Game 1, Mathurin seized the moment in front of a home crowd witnessing its first Finals game since 2000.
Veteran guard T.J. McConnell also made his mark. He racked up 10 points, five assists, and five steals in 15 minutes. His relentless defense and floor generalship flustered the Thunder and earned him a place in history. He became the first player since 1973-74 (when steals became official) to post 10-5-5 off the bench in a Finals game.
Together, Mathurin and McConnell helped swing the series in Indiana’s favor, giving the Pacers a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4.
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