The Indiana Pacers handed the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder a decisive 116-101 defeat in a preseason clash at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night. This matchup served as an early rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals, with the Pacers improving to 2-0 while the Thunder fell to 2-2.
Indiana jumped out to a slim one-point edge after the first quarter, 30-29. The Pacers controlled the tip through Isaiah Jackson, but turnovers plagued Cameron Payne early, allowing Ajay Mitchell to score seven quick points for Oklahoma City.
Bennedict Mathurin sparked Indiana’s response with a layup and free throws, tying the game at 4-4. Obi Toppin added a turnaround fadeaway to even things further, though Mitchell’s hot hand kept the Thunder close until Quenton Jackson’s three-pointer gave the hosts a 8-7 lead midway through the period.
Substitutions shuffled the lineups as Taelon Peter entered for Mathurin and Johnny Furphy for Jarace Walker. Peter wasted no time, sinking a cutting layup to push Indiana ahead 10-12, while Ousmane Dieng answered with a three for the Thunder.
The quarter stayed tight, with free throws from Cason Wallace and Furphy trading blows to end it at 29-30. Mitchell led Oklahoma City with 13 points in limited minutes, showcasing his scoring punch off the bench.
Indiana pulled away in the second, outscoring the Thunder 32-29 to take a 62-58 halftime lead. Jarace Walker heated up with a finger-roll layup and free throw, extending the margin to 34-32 as Malevy Leons answered for OKC.
Mathurin drew fouls and converted, pushing the lead to 34-33 before Dieng’s three trimmed it back. Toppin’s alley-oop layup off Payne’s assist swelled it to 46-39, but Chris Youngblood’s three-point flurry brought the Thunder within two at 46-41.
Walker assisted Mathurin’s putback layup to restore order, and Indiana closed strong with free throws from Mathurin. The Pacers forced seven Thunder turnovers in the half, capitalizing on 18 fast-break points.
Oklahoma City’s stars, including presumed rests for key Finals contributors, remained sidelined, leaving Youngblood to carry the load with nine points by the break. For Indiana, Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard sat out due to coach’s decision, yet the depth shone through.
The third quarter turned into a rout, with the Pacers erupting for 29 points to Oklahoma City’s 15, ballooning the lead to 91-73. Peter dominated early, draining a three and dunk to ignite a 61-71 run, while Huff swatted shots and dunked putbacks.
Walker dished six assists in the period, feeding Huff for a finger-roll layup that made it 67-84. Youngblood tallied 14 points in the frame, but Indiana’s 26 points in the paint overwhelmed the Thunder’s depleted frontcourt.
Defensive stands defined the stretch, including Huff’s third block and Slawson’s steals. The Pacers committed 13 turnovers overall but turned 13 Thunder miscues into 28 points.
In the fourth, Oklahoma City mounted a 26-25 edge but couldn’t close the gap, finishing at 116-101. Wiseman notched 10 points off the bench for Indiana, including dunks assisted by RayJ Dennis, while Dieng added 10 for OKC.
Youngblood erupted for 25 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-9 from deep, leading all scorers. Peter paced the Pacers with 18 points and five assists, Mathurin added 16 in 16 minutes, and Toppin contributed 14 in a starter role.
Jarace Walker logged 10 points and seven assists in 31 minutes despite inefficient shooting. The win highlighted Indiana’s bench versatility, with 73 bench points against OKC’s 46.
