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Shai has already put up 72 points in just two Finals games, a record-breaking feat.
What can we expect from him in Game 3 tomorrow (8:30 PM ET, ABC)?
**5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀**
June 10, 2025
**Game 3 Significance:** Why Wednesday’s third game is pivotal for both the Thunder and Pacers.
**Depth Analysis:** Look beyond the superstars for game-changing players in these Finals.
**Pacers’ Comeback:** Indiana hasn’t lost back-to-back games in three months. Will that trend hold?
**Snapshots from Game 2:** A retrospective of OKC’s victory with eight memorable images.
**Memorable Moments:** Jaime Jaquez Jr. reflects on L.A.’s unforgettable 2010 title.
**BUT FIRST … ⏰**
The Finals move to Indiana…
The NBA Finals have arrived in Indiana, where Games 3 and 4 will take place. Today, the teams will practice and engage with the media. Tune in live on the NBA App and NBA TV at 12:30 PM ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
1. **WHAT’S AT STAKE IN GAME 3?**
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
One of these teams will become the 79th champion in NBA history.
Out of the 78 franchises that have secured the title before, 41 have confronted the same circumstance the Pacers and Thunder face on Wednesday—Game 3 with the series knotted at 1-1.
Just how crucial is this game in Finals lore?
In scenarios where the NBA Finals are tied 1-1, the team that wins Game 3 goes on to capture the series—and the championship—80.5% of the time (33 wins to 8 losses).
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
How will the Thunder and Pacers rise to the occasion in such a high-pressure environment?
Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images
As we analyze how we reached this 1-1 stalemate in the Finals, particularly as the series transitions to Indiana, the focus is on the electrifying showdown between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton. | Finals MVP Ladder
These star guards have been exchanging blows throughout the first two games of the series.
Which standout player will shine on Wednesday to tilt the game in their team’s favor and bring them two wins closer to the championship? Or could it be a lesser-known player stepping up to take center stage?
2. **DEPTH MATTERS: PLAYERS WHO CAN INFLUENCE A GAME OR SERIES**
When we zoom in on individual stars, we risk overlooking the supporting cast that surrounds them.
**Winning Metrics:** Whether it’s through offensive contributions, shooting efficiency, rebounding, or defense, role players often serve as indicators of team performance. Keep an eye on these vital statistics in Game 3.
3. **HOW WILL INDIANA RESPOND AT HOME IN GAME 3?**
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been precisely three months since the Indiana Pacers faced defeat in back-to-back games.
Each time they’ve encountered a setback since March 10, they have bounced back with a victory.
Similar to the Thunder’s approach in Game 2, the Pacers aim to harness the energy of their home crowd as they look to recover from their first Finals loss.
With a postseason record of 6-2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers enjoy certain advantages when playing at home.
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
One player to watch closely for the Pacers is Haliburton, who has excelled in balancing scoring and playmaking throughout Indy’s playoff journey, despite slow starts in the first two Finals games.
4. **GAME 2 RECAP: A THUNDEROUS COMEBACK**
Before the NBA Finals tip-off in Indianapolis for the first time in 25 years, let’s revisit OKC’s Game 2 victory with a look at eight of our favorite moments from Sunday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Myles Turner | Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Pascal Siakam vs. Chet Holmgren | Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Chet Holmgren | Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Cason Wallace vs. Tyrese Haliburton | Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Pascal Siakam | Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
5. **UNFORGETTABLE: JAIME JAQUEZ JR.’S SPECIAL FINALS MEMORY**
Born just outside Los Angeles in February 2001—during the heyday of the Shaq & Kobe Lakers—Jaime Jaquez Jr. was almost destined to be an avid Lakers fan.
Before he emerged as a high school star and later played for UCLA for four years before entering the 2023 NBA Draft—where he was picked 18th by Miami—Jaquez Jr. was just a young basketball enthusiast cheering for his favorite team during the NBA Playoffs.
Now in his second season with the Heat, Jaquez Jr. found himself in OKC for Game 2 of the 2025 Finals, serving as an NBA player correspondent and providing insights from a current player’s perspective.
After Game 2, Jaime reminisced about cherished childhood memories associated with his favorite Finals moment.
“My most cherished Finals memory was probably in 2010 when the Lakers faced off against the Boston Celtics and came out on top again. Watching Kobe Bryant secure his fifth championship ring was incredible for me.
As a huge fan of Kobe, I was really disappointed when they lost to Paul Pierce and the Celtics two years earlier.
So when they had the chance for redemption, and the Lakers won, I distinctly remember celebrating by going out into the street and banging pots and pans, announcing that the Lakers had just clinched the championship.
The joy and love for the game continue to influence me to this day. I cherish basketball, I have a passion for this sport, and I understand the impact it has on people’s lives.”
