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The Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves in a now-familiar position in the 2025 NBA Finals. After losing Game 1 at the buzzer, dominating Game 2, and dropping Game 3, they’re down 2-1 in the series once again. It’s not the ideal scenario, but it's one they've survived before.
On Wednesday night, the Indiana Pacers capitalized on home court advantage to defeat the Thunder 116-107 in Game 3. With the win, the Pacers now lead the NBA Finals 2-1. Game 4 is set for Friday night in Indianapolis.
Game 3: Not the Thunder’s Night
It was an off night for Oklahoma City. Coach Mark Daigneault admitted as much. “I thought it was an uncharacteristic night in a lot of ways for us,” he said postgame.
The Thunder gave up a fourth-quarter lead — again. This was the second time in three games. They surrendered 21 points off turnovers and couldn’t contain the Pacers' bench, which outscored Oklahoma City’s reserves 49-18.
The Thunder strayed from their usual high-energy identity. They struggled to impose their pace and let Indiana dictate the flow, especially late in the game.
Coach’s Call for Composure
Coach Daigneault remained optimistic, stressing the importance of returning to their roots. “We definitely have to play our style and impose our will for more of the 48 minutes,” he said.
He emphasized learning from the loss and refocusing for Game 4. The Thunder know what's at stake and what it will take to bounce back — just as they did earlier in these playoffs.
Déjà Vu from the Western Semifinals
If this script sounds familiar, it’s because the Thunder have been here before. The start of the NBA Finals mirrors their Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets.
In Game 1 of the semifinals, Denver stole a road win with a late 3-pointer. In Game 1 of the Finals, Indiana won on Tyrese Haliburton’s jumper with 0.3 seconds left.
Game 2 was a strong comeback in both series. Oklahoma City crushed Denver and did the same to Indiana.
Game 3? Both Denver and Indiana grabbed a 2-1 lead after trailing for much of the first half.
The Thunder battled back against Denver to win that series. Now, they face a similar uphill climb — this time for the NBA championship.
Thunder Players Stay Focused
Despite the loss, the Thunder players are staying mentally locked in. Forward Chet Holmgren made it clear emotions can’t cloud their focus.
“I wouldn't say that now is the time for emotions,” Holmgren said. “You kind of have to cut that out and look at the substance of what it is. We have a great opportunity here.”
Game 4 Becomes a Must-Win
Friday night’s game in Indianapolis now carries massive weight. A win from the Thunder would tie the NBA Finals at 2-2 and shift momentum back to Oklahoma City. A loss would put them on the brink of elimination.
The Thunder’s performance in Game 4 could determine whether they remain in contention or face a devastating fall short of their title dreams. But if their previous playoff resilience is any indication, they’re not going down without a fight.
