Bennedict Mathurin and the Pacers have taken a 2-1 series lead in the 2025 NBA Finals over the Thunder due to their increased intensity.

The Indiana Pacers are three wins away from an NBA Championship ... but he doesn't have elite burst and struggles to create separation against high-level defenses or aggressive help schemes.

The Thunder won 123-107 as the league's best defense held Haliburton to five points through the first three quarters and kept another comeback out of reach. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, was the game's leading scorer with 34 points. The series shifts back to Indiana on Wednesday for a massive Game 3.

Indiana has become the master of the come-from-behind victory in the 2025 postseason, pulling off at least one miracle in each round.

In a key elimination game, the Indiana Pacers faltered, missing their chance to win the series.Tyrese Halliburton's performance was noticeably subdued.

Tyrese Haliburton has been the star of the Pacers show, but the entire Indiana offense has been an unsolvable puzzle in the NBA Playoffs.

Tyrese Haliburton followed his magical Game 4 with a muted performance, with just eight points on 2-7 shooting and six assists. Bennedict Mathurin had another strong night, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes, and Pascal Siakam scored 15 points on just 5-13 shooting.

Mark Daigneault put Chet Holmgren's and Jalen Williams' struggles into perspective, saying it's a credit to them to have even been put in this spot as third-year players.

Well, WFAN host Boomer Esiason has chosen his scapegoat for the team’s 3-5 mark at MSG this postseason. “I think [the Knicks] are sick and tired of all the damn celebrities at home,” Esiason said on the air on Tuesday.

For the Indiana Pacers, a chance at being perfect in Games 1 and 2 of these playoffs went awry. They’ll have to settle for a mere split of the opening two games in the NBA Finals instead.