NBA: Indiana rules the roost at home and takes the lead against Oklahoma City in the final
After their resounding victory in Oklahoma in Game 1, the Pacers won at home to regain the lead in the finals on Wednesday night.
The Pacers are back in control. Tyrese Haliburton's Indiana team (22 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists) managed to dominate the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in front of their fans on the night of Wednesday, June 11th to Thursday, June 12th, to lead 2-1 in the NBA Finals.
Twenty-five years after their last and only finals appearance, a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Pacers offered their ardent fans a magnificent return to the highest level of the North American basketball league. They are now just two wins away from their first NBA title, ahead of Game 4, scheduled for Friday, also in Indianapolis.
"We love playing in front of our fans, being here. They deserve top-level basketball, with maximum stakes, which is what we're giving them right now. We can enjoy this big win," Haliburton told ABC. While the Pacers had managed to take the first game of the series in Oklahoma on a last-second basket from their point guard after an improbable comeback, they, for the first time in the finals, played an entire game at the level of the Thunder, ending up overtaking them late in the game.
After leading 64-60 at halftime following a strong second quarter, the Pacers saw the Thunder regain control in the third quarter (89-89). But the home team pulled off a superb final comeback, winning 32-18, capitalizing on their strengths from the evening.
The two teams were still tied with eight minutes to go (95-95) and then seven minutes to go (98-98). Haliburton, from distance, then a violent tap-dunk by Obi Toppin over Luguentz Dort gave the Pacers a seven-point lead, who remained solid afterward.
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