Pacers beat Thunder to take lead in NBA Finals

Tyrese Haliburton praised a squad effort from nan Indiana Pacers aft they hit nan Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 to return a 2-1 lead successful nan NBA Finals.

Haliburton scored 22 points and made 11 assists and 9 rebounds arsenic nan Pacers overturned a five-point shortage going into nan 4th fourth successful crippled 3 of nan best-of-seven series.

The Pacers chair outscored nan Thunder by 49-18, pinch reserve Bennedict Mathurin contributing 27 points astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis.

"So galore different guys chipped in," said Haliburton. "Ben Mathurin was astonishing disconnected nan bench. We conscionable had guys make plays aft plays."

Mathurin said: "The main point is you person to beryllium resilient. You person to beryllium nan aggressor successful bid to triumph games."

The Pacers, who went into nan crippled aft a 123-107 defeat successful crippled two, extended a tally of not losing consecutive games since March.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, nan NBA's Most Valuable Player, scored 24 points for nan Thunder but only 3 successful nan 4th quarter.

Jalem Williams top-scored for nan visitors pinch 26 points, while Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and made 10 rebounds for a Thunder broadside that gave up 19 turnovers which led to 21 points for nan Pacers.

"In nan 4th fourth I conscionable thought they really outplayed america connected some ends," said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

Game 4 will return spot astatine nan aforesaid venue astatine 20:30 section clip connected Friday (01:30 BST, Saturday).