Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench and lit up Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, pouring in a game-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting to help the Indiana Pacers secure a 116–107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The victory gave Indiana a 2–1 series lead and swung momentum back in their favor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
But while his breakout performance stole the spotlight, Mathurin wasn’t ready to bask in it. The second-year guard quickly deflected praise in his postgame comments, saying celebrating individual stats would only “take away from my aggressiveness.” For Mathurin and the Pacers, the focus remains squarely on one thing: winning the franchise’s first NBA title.
Bennedict Mathurin Sparks Pacers’ Game 3 Victory, But Keeps Focus on Finals Prize
Bennedict Mathurin delivered a landmark performance off the bench in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals. His scoring output marked the highest scoring night by a reserve in the Finals since Jason Terry’s 2011 outing. With Mathurin hot, Indiana’s bench outscored Oklahoma City’s, 49-18.
Despite the spotlight, Mathurin made it clear that individual moments come second to the bigger goal.
“As much as I wanna live the moment and hold a camera, I can’t as much as I would love to,” Mathurin said. “I think that’s gonna take away from my aggressiveness on the court. When I have the (championship) trophy in my hands then the job’s finished.”
Bennedict Mathurin after his big night:
“As much as I wanna live the moment and hold a camera, I can’t as much as I would love to. I think that’s gonna take away from my aggressiveness on the court. When I have the (championship) trophy in my hands then the job’s finished” pic.twitter.com/fNlZsbxBiZ
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) June 12, 2025
Mathurin had seen limited minutes through the first two games of the series — 16 in Game 1 and 22 in Game 2, with some of that in garbage time. However, he prepared diligently over the weekend to be ready for a breakout showing.
“Just staying ready,” he said.
“Whenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win. That’s the whole mindset.”
That approach has defined Mathurin’s tenure with Indiana since he was drafted sixth overall out of Arizona in 2022. Recall that after a standout rookie season in which he averaged 16.7 points and made a franchise rookie-record 100 3-pointers, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. This season, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 72 games.
His resilience has been on full display since returning from a torn right shoulder labrum that sidelined him in March 2024.
Aside from Mathurin, Tyrese Haliburton added 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds in Game 3. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points. T.J. McConnell’s five steals helped fuel a defensive edge for Indiana.
“This is the kind of team that we are,” said head coach Rick Carlisle. “We need everybody to be ready. It’s not always going to be exactly the same guys … but this is how we got to do it. We got to do it as a team.”
The Pacers improved to 5-0 following losses in the 2025 postseason and have not lost consecutive games since early March. Historically, teams winning Game 3 of a 1-1 Finals go on to win the series 80.5% of the time, positioning Indiana firmly in control.
