Thunder vs Pacers NBA Finals Game 3 Predictions, Props, & Picks
John Canady
Host · Writer
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder hit the road for Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. OKC bounced back in a big way with a dominant win in Game 2 on Sunday, but the Pacers winning Game 1 put them in the driver’s seat of this series for now after stealing home-court advantage. In what could be the most crucial game of the series for Indiana, expect a dogfight in this pivotal matchup.
Thunder vs Pacers
- Location: Gainbridge FieldHouse
- Where to Watch: ABC
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Thunder -5 | Total: 228.5
- Moneyline: Thunder -225 | Pacers +188
Please be aware that betting odds may change after the publication of this article.
Thunder vs. Pacers Best Bet: Pacers ML +188
Indiana enters this matchup as the underdogs despite returning to their home floor. The Pacers will need the energy from their fans in this Game 3 battle, and with this being the team’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, I fully expect their home fans to bring the energy tonight. Rick Carlisle’s squad has taken pride in protecting their home court, and with a game of this importance, Indiana will be ready to come out swinging. Many didn’t expect the Pacers to steal a game on the road in OKC, and they don’t expect them to extend this series past Game 5. Despite that, the talent is there, and when the Pacers are firing on all cylinders, they’re as hard to beat as any top team. That said, give me the Pacers to take Game 3 on Wednesday.
Thunder vs Pacers Best Total Bet: Over 228.5
Both squads have the offensive firepower to turn any game into a shootout. In Game 1, the two teams combined for 221 total points, falling short of the 228.5-point set total. However, in Game 2, things seemed to return closer to normal as the final score exceeded the set total, with 230 points combined. Heading into Game 3, the energy in the building for the Pacers, mixed with the eagerness to shut down the hype from a hostile crowd for the Thunder, is a recipe for a back-and-forth matchup. Assuming that’s the script this matchup follows on Wednesday, a final score of 122-115 seems realistic in this battle.
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Thunder Best Player Bet: Alex Caruso 2+ Threes Made +108
Alex Caruso played a massive role in the Thunder’s Game 2 win, providing 20 points off the bench, including four shots beyond the arc. The two-way guard will play a pivotal role in this series with his versatility on defense. If he can add consistent offensive production like in Game 2, he could be the difference-maker Oklahoma City needs to take this series. If Caruso carries his confidence over to Game 3 and stays aggressive on offense, his 41.6% shooting from three this postseason gives me faith he can finish another matchup with 2+ threes made.
Pacers Best Player Bet: Tyrese Haliburton OVER 19.5 Points +154
Tyrese Haliburton will be the difference-maker for the Pacers in this series. When the guard is aggressive on the offensive end of the court, Indiana looks like a completely different basketball team. However, when he shies away from looking for his shot, the team’s offense sometimes seems to stagger. With Rick Carlisle likely understanding what it means for his star to be aggressive, I expect the team to run many sets to get the Iowa State product going offensively. In front of his home crowd, I like the chance that Haliburton puts together a similar big performance like he did throughout the Eastern Conference Finals.
