Haliburton’s All-Around Brilliance Propels Pacers in Game 3
The Indiana Pacers just grabbed Game 3 of the NBA Finals by the throat, taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in a matchup packed with drama and standout moments. The main headline: Tyrese Haliburton put together one of those stat lines that’s going to get remembered for years—22 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. This was no empty-calorie performance; Haliburton was everywhere, hunting down rebounds against bigger bodies, nailing big buckets, and orchestrating the offense with a calm that made everything look easy.
To appreciate what Haliburton did, you have to look a little deeper. According to NBA statisticians, he became just the fifth player in Finals history to drop at least 20 points and 10 assists in a game without stepping to the free-throw line. That means he got his buckets and his dimes in the thick of live action, never slowing the tempo for a single charity shot. Stats nerds on social media had a field day with that unique mix, calling out how his control and court vision spun the game in Indiana’s favor.
Bennedict Mathurin also came off the bench ready to torch the nets, dropping 27 points and snatching the spotlight from a Thunder squad that had trouble answering the Pacers’ depth. Indiana’s bench just kept delivering, giving Oklahoma City a headache every time the second unit hit the floor. Memphis fans, Sixers fans, even Knicks fans started to weigh in online, if only to say, “That’s how you build a Finals roster.”
Social Media Explodes—and NBA Off-Court Buzz Heats Up
It wasn’t just Pacers diehards celebrating. Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok stayed busy, replaying Haliburton’s historic stat line and debating whether this makes him the new face of clutch in these playoffs. In chat groups and comment sections across the country, fans couldn’t stop talking about how he controlled the pace without the need for any free-throws—a rare feat for anyone, let alone in the heat of the championship round.
Away from the court, big NBA names were making headlines too. LeBron James clapped back at some spicy critics, using his massive platform to shut down recent trade rumors and dismiss the latest hot takes about his future. The talk around Kevin Durant’s potential next landing spot picked up as well, with league sources whispering about a few surprising cities that might lure him. And for those who devour NBA coaching gossip, Jason Kidd’s name rolled through the rumor mill, now being tied to a possible Knicks role if that organization shakes things up in the summer.
Back to Game 3, the focus remains on Haliburton and Mathurin, who didn’t just pad stats but delivered in high-pressure moments and kept Indiana in control. The Thunder, meanwhile, will have to adjust fast if they want to turn the tide. Either way, the night sparked plenty of heated debates and fresh headlines—both for what happened on the hardwood and what might be brewing around the league.
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