It was Pacers 116, Thunder 107, and this game presented a ... Ben Sheppard and the Pacers to flash a different strategy and prevent him from becoming a one-man demolition.

Historically, the best defenses are able to get stops without fouling. But OKC engulfs attacks not despite its hacking but because of it.

Before Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Rick Carlisle did not want to talk about the Indiana Pacers’ pickup points — how far away from their own basket they would have a defender meet the Oklahoma City Thunder’s ball-handlers.