The 2025 NBA Finals shift to Indianapolis with the series tied 1-1, as the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for a crucial Game 3 showdown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. (WE) — With the NBA Finals tied at 1-1, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder head into a pivotal Game 3 on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Each team earned a win in Oklahoma City, and now the series shifts to Indiana where the stakes feel higher than ever.
Notably, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized a clean-slate mindset. “Now the goal is to get to three games,” he said after Tuesday’s practice. “It’s first to three. The slate is clean.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of electric. In fact, he scored 72 points across Games 1 and 2 — the most in a Finals debut through two games. His brilliance led the Thunder to a dominant 123-107 win in Game 2, following Tyrese Haliburton‘s dramatic game-winner in Game 1.
Meanwhile, Haliburton appeared to limp throughout parts of Game 2. Oklahoma City’s aggressive defense forced him into tough positions and redirected the ball to Pascal Siakam and other teammates. Despite the discomfort, Haliburton confirmed he plans to play. “I do have a lower body thing, but I’m playing,” he said confidently.
According to Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, Haliburton participated in Tuesday’s full practice. “He’s feeling discomfort, but it’s improving day by day,” Carlisle noted. “This is the time of year where it doesn’t get better than this.”
Carlisle, who is aiming for his second NBA championship as a head coach, constantly urges his players to stay present. “What’s already happened doesn’t matter, except the series score,” he explained. “We have to move forward.”
In truth, the Pacers have only led for less than two minutes over the first 96 minutes of the series. Still, they managed to steal Game 1. Now, with the series returning to Indiana, the team is counting on the home crowd to energize them.
Gilgeous-Alexander anticipates Indiana will tweak their defensive strategy in Game 3. “A series is tricky,” he said. “There are so many adjustments. You just have to stay sharp and be ready for anything.”
Despite the challenges, Indiana remains resilient. Although the Thunder outscored them in the paint by 20 points, the Pacers clawed back from a 15-point deficit to take Game 1. Consequently, they’ve proven they can bounce back — and they’re 4-0 in the playoffs following a loss.
To reclaim the series lead, Carlisle stressed the need to reduce turnovers without sacrificing aggression. Haliburton, usually strong with ball control, tied his playoff high with five turnovers in Game 2. More concerning, he had just five points entering the fourth quarter.
“You try to address those issues without slowing down the pace,” Carlisle said. “Tyrese has been historically great with ball security. But Oklahoma City creates problems for everyone. We need excellent spacing and timing. If you play too careful, you won’t get a shot off.”
Therefore, the Thunder are likely to stick with the same game plan until Indiana proves it can counter. Head coach Mark Daigneault, known for creative rotations, used more than 700 lineup combinations during the regular season — the most in the NBA.
That flexibility helped in Game 2. The Thunder improved on the boards and dictated tempo. As Thunder guard Jalen Williams explained, “Everyone’s ready to play. No one’s shocked when Coach changes it up.”
Although Daigneault doesn’t focus on surprising opponents, he values winning the possession battle. “In Game 1, we did it with turnovers. In Game 2, we rebounded better,” he said. “Each game requires something different.”
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The next two games remain in Indiana. Game 4 is Friday night, and Game 5 heads back to Oklahoma City on Monday. If needed, Game 6 will be held June 19 back in Indiana.
Importantly, the Pacers believe their crowd can make a real difference. Guard Andrew Nembhard called the Gainbridge crowd their “sixth man.” He added, “The fans bring energy and keep us focused. It’ll be a wild atmosphere.”
Although Haliburton is clearly in pain, he refuses to sit. “He practiced and looked good,” Carlisle said. “He’s not going to make it a story. He wants to compete.”
The Thunder, on the other hand, know what to expect. “They’re going to be energized,” Daigneault admitted. “They’re tough at home. We need to meet their intensity.”
Pacers veteran Myles Turner will play in his 347th home game on Wednesday — but his first in the NBA Finals. “This city’s been waiting for a moment like this,” he said. “It’s going to be cr@zy.”
Nevertheless, Indiana must improve their starts. Oklahoma City won the first two quarters of Games 1 and 2, leading by 12 and 18 points at halftime. That trend can’t continue. The Thunder are 63-9 this season when leading at halftime.
Thunder guard Alex Caruso said they’re prepared for a hostile environment. “This place will be loud,” he said. “But we’ve got to stick to our fundamentals.”
Across the league, road teams have won 44% of playoff games — the best rate since 1995. Excluding the 2020 bubble season, this is among the best postseason road winning paces in modern history.
So far, Oklahoma City is 4-3 on the road, while Indiana is 7-3 at home. Historically, a strong road team has a real chance in the Finals, and the Thunder know this.
As Game 3 approaches, the series is wide open. Indiana wants to feed off the emotion of the home crowd. Oklahoma City seeks to maintain their edge with efficient play and smart decisions.
“The first quarter is key,” Nembhard emphasized. “We’ve been playing from behind. That has to stop.”
Turner echoed that sentiment. “We’ve all dreamed of this moment,” he said. “Now that it’s here, we need to rise to the occasion.”
Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. With the series locked at 1-1, Wednesday’s showdown could set the tone for the rest of the Finals.
