Pacers defeat Thunder in Game 3 and everyone’s saying the same thing about the reasons why
The Pacers came from behind to take a 2-1 lead in the series in the first Finals game played in Indiana since 2000.


The Indiana Pacers regained control of the 2025 NBA Finals after winning Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The city was hosting a finals game for the first time in 25 years, and the fans in attendance certainly made up for lost time, spurring the Pacers on to another comeback victory.
Haliburton and Siakam hail Pacers home crowd
Speaking after the game, Indiana superstar Tyrese Haliburton was among those who was quick to highlight the atmosphere immediately after the on-court action wrapped up: “Amazing. We love playing in front of our fans. We love being here. They deserve high stakes, high-level basketball, and we’re giving them that right now. It’s a big win for us.”
Tyrese Haliburton with a near triple-double in his first @NBA Finals win at @GainbridgeFH 😤 pic.twitter.com/2Y0PR084Aj
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 12, 2025
“Our fans are hungry,” Haliburton continue in a post-game interview. “They want to watch winning basketball and they want to be a part of it. We’re just trying to give our fans something to be proud of, trying to play the right way. This really is such a great sports town”.
Teammate Pascal Siakam was also full of praise for the backing the Pacers received from the home crowd: “Oh my God, it was amazing man. I was getting chills out there. The energy, everyone just so excited. Obviously, first final in I don’t know how many years. It’s incredible. I’m just so blessed to be a part of it. The energy they brought tonight was awesome”.
SGA and Mark Daigneault agree on Thunder failings
On the opposing side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, too, referenced the home fans while attempting to explain why things went wrong for the Thunder: “They were aggressive. They were heavy in the crowd. They excelled on both ends of the ball. If you give those two things up, you’re probably going to lose, especially on the road in a hostile environment, when the crowd’s behind them”.
The Pacers are 11 points per 100 possessions better on defense when Pascal Siakam is on the floor. Ranks in the 99th percentile.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 12, 2025
Watch him guard SGA on this crucial possession. Wow. pic.twitter.com/CqEqcVV41i
On a more technical level, SGA and Oklahoma coach Mark Daigneault also agreed on how Indiana had managed to turn the game around after trailing in the fourth quarter.
“They were aggressive. They were higher in the pick and rolls,” explained the Canadian guard. “They were aggressive, more forceful. We’ve got to apply that pressure back”.
“The turnovers were uncharacteristic,” lamented Daigneault. “We’re usually plretty clean there. I thought they played really well. They played with great energy, they were physical. They sustained it for much of the 48″.
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