TJ McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin lead a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback as the Pacers bench outperforms the Thunder to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

The most important game of the season is left to Indiana's bench. The match was intense, and the starting players were fatigued, but Bennedict Mathurin and TJ McConnell transformed Gainbridge Fieldhouse into frenzy. The Pacers took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals with their 116-107 victory over the Thunder on Wednesday night.

As Indiana defeated Oklahoma City 32–18 in the fourth quarter, Mathurin scored 27 points off the bench while McConnell was everywhere on the floor, diving for loose balls, snagging steals, and throwing dimes. After overcoming a five-point deficit, the Pacers won, moving them two wins closer to winning their first NBA championship. They outscored the Thunder 49–18 in bench points and ended the game on a 22–8 surge.

They simply had people making play after play, according to Tyrese Haliburton. They had an incredible bench.

Haliburton completed with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. With 1:09 remaining, Pascal Siakam made a beautiful drive to the hoop to extend Indiana's advantage to 112–104, adding 21 points and the shot that virtually clinched the deal.

The Thunder were outplayed and outperformed in the final minutes after leading 89-84 going into the fourth quarter. The Thunder missed all four of their attempts from beyond the arc, turned the ball over five times, and recorded a shooting percentage of just 35.3% in the final quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, Jalen Williams, who led Oklahoma City in scoring with 26 points, went 0-for-6 from beyond the arc, and Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The explosion came from Indiana's bench. Early in the fourth quarter, McConnell made a layup after catching Alex Caruso's inbound pass beneath the hoop, tying the score at 95. He showcased Indiana during the next game by assisting Mathurin with a corner three-pointer.