The NBA Finals head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 3 on Wednesday night. The series is tied 1-1 after both teams won once in Oklahoma City. Game time is set for 8:30 PM ET.
Oklahoma City won Game 2 by a score of 123-107 behind another strong game from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Indiana stole Game 1 with a late basket from Tyrese Haliburton. This is the Pacers’ first home game in the NBA Finals since 2000. Indiana needs to bounce back to avoid falling behind in the series.
Pacers Preview – Time to Bounce Back at Home
The Pacers are back in Indianapolis, where they went 35-13 during the regular season. They are 4-0 in the playoffs after a loss. Coach Rick Carlisle is hoping the home crowd gives his young team a spark in Game 3.
Tyrese Haliburton is battling a lower-body issue but is expected to play. He finished Game 2 with 17 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, but also had 5 turnovers. The Thunder have been forcing the ball out of his hands and pressuring him with multiple defenders.
Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner combined for 31 points, but the team struggled to score inside. The Pacers have been outscored by 20 points in the paint over the first two games. Indiana will need better spacing and fewer turnovers to take Game 3 at home.
Thunder Preview – Gilgeous-Alexander Leading the Way
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off to a fast start in the Finals. He has scored 72 points through two games and is the main reason the Thunder won Game 2. In Game 2, he had 34 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Oklahoma City has used lineup flexibility to keep Indiana off balance. Coach Mark Daigneault has used over 700 lineup combos this season. Chet Holmgren added 15 points and 6 rebounds in Game 2, while Jalen Williams scored 19 with 5 assists.
The Thunder defense ranks top-10 in steals and blocks. They are also No. 1 in free throw percentage at 81.5%. They forced Haliburton into mistakes and did a better job rebounding in Game 2. The Thunder are 44-8 on the road this season, including playoffs.
Betting Prediction
Oklahoma City is a 5.5-point favorite, and the game total is set at 227.5. The Thunder have covered in 63 of 101 games this season. They have also hit the moneyline in 70 of their last 86 games. Their defense and balanced offense give them an edge.
Indiana plays better at home, and they tend to bounce back well. But with Haliburton not at 100%, it will be tough to keep up if the Thunder control the pace again. Oklahoma City’s lineup depth and defense are likely to help them win and cover on the road.
Prediction: Thunder 115, Pacers 108.
Pick: Thunder -5.5
Take the Thunder to win Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday!
