Returning home to Indiana for Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers can be satisfied with splitting the initial two games on the road. Despite a 16-point defeat in Game 2, point guard Tyrese Haliburton`s performance is expected to improve on his home court. In the previous series, Haliburton`s scoring was significantly higher at home, averaging 24.3 points in Indiana compared to 17.7 points in New York.
Predictions suggest Haliburton will exceed expectations in Game 3, particularly on various player prop bets. The Thunder enter the game as 5.5-point favorites, with the projected total points set at 228.5.
Value has been identified in betting on Tyrese Haliburton to score over 17.5 points for Wednesday`s game. The series showcases an exciting matchup between two rising top guards: Haliburton and the 2025 NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Playing at home, Haliburton is anticipated to elevate his game and compete fiercely with the MVP.
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton has consistently performed better offensively when playing at home. In the Eastern Conference Finals, his home scoring average was 24.3 points, significantly higher than his 17.7 points per game on the road. He has successfully gone over the 17.5 point mark in most of his recent home playoff appearances. His regular season home average was also strong at 20.2 points. Analyst Stephen Oh noted Haliburton`s solid history of exceeding this specific points line when playing at home.
Isaiah Hartenstein
Isaiah Hartenstein has averaged 8.5 rebounds per game through the first two contests of this series, surpassing the 7.5 rebound line in both games. This aligns more closely with his regular season average of 10.7 rebounds than his 6.0 rebounds per game in the previous series. While his scoring output this series is lower (6.0 points per game), his minutes increased in the Game 2 victory, suggesting his importance on the court. His size is a critical factor against the Pacers` big players. Despite a slight decrease in playoff minutes compared to the regular season, Hartenstein remains an effective rebounder, averaging 7.9 boards overall in the postseason and 8.4 per game on the road this season.
Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam recorded four assists in Game 2, despite playing only 30 minutes in a game where Indiana lost control early. The return to Indiana`s home court is expected to benefit the Pacers` offense, potentially creating more assist opportunities, similar to their high-scoring performances in the final home games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Siakam`s playing time is anticipated to be higher in a more competitive Game 3. He has a notable trend of exceeding the 3.5 assist mark when his team is considered an underdog, averaging 4.0 assists in such games. His averages are 3.4 assists during the regular season and 3.3 in the playoffs. The model projects him to reach 3.9 assists in Game 3.
Jasper Hawthorne