After the first two games, the 2025 NBA Finals are tied, with Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers winning one game each. So, Game 3 in Indiana is an important one as the Pacers try to hold on to a break they made in Game 1. Game 3 is scheduled for 1:30 am on the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
So, let's take a better look at this game and what we can expect from it.
Indiana Pacers vs OKC Thunder predictions
Total points
Over 227.5
5/6
Tyrese Haliburton total points
Over 17.5
5/6
Chet Holmgren total points
Under 14.5
4/5
All odds for my Pacers vs Thunder tips were taken from Boylesports and are subject to change at any time.
Over 227.5 total points
While I predicted the Pacers to cover the spread in both games, where I was halfway right, this time I won't be trying to guess the winner, with or without the spread. I just feel that this game can go either way. Instead, I feel it's better to focus on points and over 227.5 total points sounds like a smart bet.
After all, five of the last six H2H meetings between these two teams have gone over this line. In fact, all of those five have reached at least 230 points, with most of them going well beyond that as well. Both teams play at a high pace and that usually translates into more points. Even the first game of these NBA Finals that has fallen short ended with 221 total points, so pretty close to the line suggested.
Tyrese Haliburton over 17.5 total points
In my prediction for Game 2, I backed Haliburton to score at least 17 points and he delivered, barely. He scored exactly 17 points, but most of his points came in the fourth quarter, so it still wasn't the performance that I expected from him.
That being said, Haliburton was the team's top scorer anyway and if the Pacers want to do well in Game 3, they will need Haliburton to be at his best, especially when it comes to scoring. The Thunder are capable of slowing down Indiana's fee-flowing offence since they have a great perimeter defence, so Haliburton struggles to find good passing lanes. So, he will have to score more and I believe he can do it.
Chet Holmgren under 14.5 total points
I'm also sticking with my third prediction, which was the same for Game 2, even though Holmgren had 15 points in it. The reason why I feel good about this bet is Holmgren's minutes, who only played 28 minutes in Game 2 after playing just 24 minutes in Game 1.
It seems that the Thunder will keep on playing with just one true big, with Isaiah Hartenstein coming off the bench, which seriously limits Holmgren's minutes and potential for scoring. He took just 20 shots in the first two games combined and if this trend continues he's more likely to go under the line than over it.
Pacers vs Thunder preview – teams news, injuries, and predicted lineups
Indiana Pacers preview and latest news
The Pacers went into Game 3 of the NBA finals with a lot of confidence after stealing Game 1, but they couldn't keep up with the Thunder at any point in this game. The lead by the hosts was too big this time to overturn and the Pacers were 16 points behind at the end of it.
Despite this, the Indiana Pacers have to feel good ahead of Game 3. They did what they had to do by stealing Game 1, so they now have the home-court advantage in potential Game 7. If they can defend their home court in the next two games, they will be in a good position, but that's easier said than done against a great team such as OKC Thunder.
The Pacers remain without injured Jarace Walker and Isaiah Jackson.
- Regular season record: 50-32
- Playoff record: 14-5
Pacers starting lineup: Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, Turner
OKC Thunder preview and latest news
As one of the youngest teams in the league, whose inexperience was a big question mark ahead of the playoffs, OKC Thunder proved that they know how to respond to adversity. Similarly to how they responded to a shocking loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the conference semi-finals, they took care of business against Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, again after a shocking, last-second loss in Game 1.
The Thunder came out roaring in Game 2 and they were up 18 points by half-time. However, unlike Game 1, OKC didn't let the Pacers back into this game, closing it out with a double-digit advantage. OKC Thunder have lost the home-court advantage in the Finals, but they showed against Denver that they can take it back.
- Regular season record: 68-14
- Playoff record: 13-6
Thunder starting lineup: Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Williams, Holmgren, Hartenstein