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Episode Description
Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: I want to hear daily OKC Thunder news. If they played a game then give me the highlights.
Episode Transcript
Welcome to Big Dill Sports, where we bring you "OKC Thunder Strikes Daily"! I’m Dillon, your trusty guide through the ups and downs of Thunder basketball. Today, we’re diving into the excitement and heartbreak of Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Let’s get started.
Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Indiana Pacers in an electrifying showdown. The stage was set in Indiana, where the excitement was palpable, marking the first NBA Finals game held there in 25 years. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Pacers came out on top with a 116-107 victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. It was a pivotal game, especially after the Thunder’s dominant performance in Game 2.
Let’s break down the highlights. The Thunder came out strong, finishing the first quarter with an 8-point lead. Chet Holmgren was on fire, dropping 13 points, and Luguentz Dort nailed three shots from downtown. However, the game turned in the fourth quarter with both teams tightly matched until Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers on a crucial run, pushing them ahead by eight, sealing the victory.
A standout performance from Jalen Williams kept the Thunder fighting as he led an 8-0 run at the start of the third quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, despite his consistent brilliance in the postseason, added 21 points. Combined with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the trio put up a solid 70 points. But here's where it got a little shaky for OKC – 17 turnovers and missing 23 free throws out of 30 attempts didn’t help their cause.
On the Pacers’ side, Tyrese Haliburton was a maestro, nearly pulling off a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. Then there's Bennedict Mathurin, who was an absolute force off the bench with a playoff career-high of 27 points in just 22 minutes. The Pacers’ bench dominated, outscoring the Thunder's reserves 49 to 18.
Now, let’s take a moment for our ‘big dill’ of the game, the player who made all the difference. This time, it's Bennedict Mathurin. His explosive performance off the bench was the dagger that the Pacers needed to push past the Thunder. Hats off to Mathurin for delivering when it mattered most.
Before wrapping up, a few noteworthy mentions: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to impress, having set a Thunder franchise record for 30+ point games in a single postseason. And the Thunder’s Game 2 victory was a clinic, not just in point margin, but in teamwork and execution.
Looking ahead, Game 4 is set for Friday, June 13th, once again in Indiana. The Thunder need to tighten up their game and perhaps work on minimizing those turnovers to even out the series. It’s all to play for, and I, for one, can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
That's all for today’s episode of Big Dill Sports. Thanks for tuning in to "OKC Thunder Strikes Daily." Don’t forget to subscribe, and stay as eager as I am for the thrilling saga of the NBA Finals. Till next time, keep your head in the game!
Supporting Data
The Oklahoma City Thunder faced the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Wednesday, June 12, 2025. The Pacers defeated the Thunder 116-107, taking a 2-1 series lead. The game was played in Indiana.
**Game Highlights & Key Moments:**
* The Pacers took control of the series with this win after a blowout loss to OKC in Game 2.
* The game was closely contested, with the score knotted midway through the fourth quarter. However, a run led by Tyrese Haliburton put the Pacers ahead by eight points with three minutes remaining.
* The Thunder led by 8 points at the end of the first quarter, with Chet Holmgren scoring 13 points and Luguentz Dort hitting three three-pointers in the opening period.
* Jalen Williams had a strong third quarter for the Thunder, helping them start the quarter on an 8-0 run.
* Despite a combined 70 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, the Thunder lost due to turnovers (17) and missed free throws (7 of 30).
* The Pacers' bench significantly outplayed the Thunder's, outscoring them 49-18.
**Player Statistics:**
* **OKC Thunder:**
* Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 21 points (one source says 38 points, another 34 in Game 2, and 21 in Game 3). It's important to note the discrepancy and clarify which game each stat refers to. Based on multiple sources referring to Game 3 yesterday, 21 points seems most accurate for *this* game. He also had a playoff career high of 38 points in Game 1. In Game 2, he scored 34 points with 8 assists.
* Jalen Williams: 26 points (one source says 20 points, another 26, and another 17). 26 points is mentioned in the context of Game 3, while 20 points is also mentioned for Game 3.
* Chet Holmgren: 20 points (13 in the first quarter).
* Luguentz Dort: Ended with more than his initial 9 points from the first quarter, but the exact final number isn't clear from the snippets, though one mentions he had just three more after the first, implying 12 total.
* Alex Caruso: 20 points off the bench in Game 2.
* Aaron Wiggins: 18 points off the bench in Game 2.
* **Indiana Pacers:**
* Tyrese Haliburton: 22 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was limited to 17 points and 6 assists in Game 2.
* Bennedict Mathurin: Playoff career-high 27 points off the bench (9/12 shooting in 22 minutes).
* T.J. McConnell: 10 points, 5 assists, 5 steals off the bench.
* Pascal Siakam: 21 points. He had 7 points in the first quarter.
**Noteworthy Information:**
* The series was tied 1-1 going into Game 3. The Thunder won Game 2 with a score of 123-107.
* OKC committed 17 turnovers compared to Indiana's 13 in Game 3.
* The Thunder had only 16 assists as a team in Game 3.
* Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in a previous game (likely Game 1, based on the 38 points), set a record for the most 30+ point games in a single postseason in Thunder franchise history (12), surpassing Kevin Durant. He also recorded his 8th consecutive home game with 30+ points this postseason, the longest such streak in NBA history, passing Amar'e Stoudemire and Michael Jordan.
* The Pacers' win in Game 3 marked the first NBA Finals game in Indiana in 25 years.
* Game 4 is scheduled for Friday, June 13th, in Indiana.
* NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed negative feedback regarding the presentation of the first two games of the Finals, including the lack of special on-court logos and initial low TV ratings. However, he also noted that Games 1 and 2 were the highest-rated programs in May and June on television so far.
**Injury Updates for Game 3:**
* **Thunder:** Nikola Topic (torn ACL) was out.
* **Pacers:** Jarace Walker (ankle sprain) and Isaiah Jackson (torn Achilles) were out.
This information should provide a solid foundation for an article on yesterday's OKC Thunder game.
**Sources:**
1. [yahoo.com](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHcmcW44Ze4PTcSNP4qDW3G3i5Xov4vA1XoB4nVbpuldKVktg2yvOX5zlt-2aJLxgKbHgR3blr2cQmJtpKh__kZTYc4QTgebxZv5SnOBVLuibjdFzxzlkqnZdkJBv7omQOr7BA5kWCTL7cQ4FnOCOlAgDIqEeyYHJKAO9HxhA0g2cYgtR-v6GQ=)
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