The NBA season is barely underway, but the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder have already delivered a double-overtime thriller that’s sure to be remembered. On Thursday night, inside a raucous Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Thunder edged out the Pacers 141-135 after 58 grueling minutes, marking Oklahoma City’s second consecutive double-overtime win to start the campaign. But while the Thunder celebrated a slice of history, the Pacers walked away with both frustration and a sense of what could be—especially after Bennedict Mathurin’s career-defining night.
Let’s set the stage: The Pacers, missing their star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and key contributors T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard, were forced to dig deep into their rotation. With their usual orchestrators sidelined, Indiana needed someone to take command. That someone was Mathurin, who exploded for 36 points and 11 rebounds, attacking the rim relentlessly and earning a whopping 17 trips to the free-throw line. His performance, while not enough to secure a victory, showcased just how valuable a determined scorer can be when a team’s offensive rhythm falters.
Mathurin’s night was nothing short of sensational. Shooting 47.4% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc, and 88.2% at the stripe, the fourth-year guard seemed to have an answer for every Thunder run. “Selfishness is rarely a virtue, but when you need a bucket, sometimes you need someone who drives to the rim with that one purpose,” one Pacers analyst noted after the game. That single-mindedness paid off, especially in the second half when Mathurin’s 11 free throws helped Indiana post a robust 122.2 offensive rating—an impressive turnaround from their sluggish first half.
Yet, the night belonged to Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who delivered a career-high 55 points, cementing his status as one of the league’s premier closers. The reigning MVP’s 44% usage rate was a testament to his dominance, and he was ably supported by Aaron Wiggins (23 points, nine rebounds) and Ajay Mitchell, who chipped in a career-best 26 points off the bench. The Thunder were themselves shorthanded, missing key players such as Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Alex Caruso. But that didn’t slow them down one bit.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team ever leading by more than seven points. Indiana’s offense struggled early, posting a -15.5 net rating in the first half and an anemic 90.4 offensive rating. But Mathurin’s aggressive drives and Pascal Siakam’s steady hand kept the Pacers afloat. Siakam, who finished with a double-double and combined with Mathurin for 68 points, delivered in the clutch. With just seven seconds left in regulation and the Pacers trailing 113-111, Siakam coolly stepped back over Thunder center Chet Holmgren and drained a high-arching 22-footer, sending the crowd into a frenzy and the game into overtime.
Overtime brought even more drama. Gilgeous-Alexander, ever the showman, hit a clutch step-back jumper to give the Thunder a two-point edge with just 26.4 seconds left in the first extra period. But Mathurin wasn’t done yet. Faking out his fellow Canadian, Mathurin glided past Gilgeous-Alexander and finished at the rim for his 36th point, tying the score at 124 with just over 13 seconds to go. Once again, the Thunder couldn’t close it out in one overtime, and the teams geared up for another round.
The second overtime saw tempers flare and controversy rear its head. With Oklahoma City leading 139-135 and just 22.1 seconds left on the clock, Pacers forward Obi Toppin appeared to have stolen an errant inbound pass—a play that could have flipped the script. But the officials granted a timeout to the Thunder bench, much to the outrage of Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. After the game, a visibly frustrated Carlisle told reporters, “I’m not talking about the refs. If I talk about the refs, I will be fined an exorbitant amount of money.” He added, “They just kept marching to the free throw line. When that happens it takes the pace out of the game. It becomes difficult to get shots. They shot 51 free throws. That’s at least 25 times where we’re unable to get any tempo going because we’re standing there and they’re setting their defense up. They did some good things to get to the line, but I’m not going to talk about the refs.”
Indeed, free throws became a defining feature of the contest. The Thunder’s 51 attempts from the line stifled Indiana’s preferred up-tempo style, forcing the Pacers to play at a pace dictated by stoppages and defensive resets. Still, Indiana found ways to respond, with Mathurin’s assertiveness embodying the “paint-to-great” philosophy that has become a hallmark of Rick Carlisle’s offense. Even with a 26.5% usage rate—second only to Siakam’s on the Pacers—Mathurin’s approach never felt forced or out of character. If anything, it was proof that he’s more than capable of handling starting minutes and should be a focal point even when Haliburton returns.
On the other side, Gilgeous-Alexander’s heroics drew praise from teammates and coaches alike. “I’m tired, but it’s expected,” he admitted after the game. “It’s a good way to break the ice on the season, shake the rust off, kind of bust the lungs up, get my cardio back. It’s not ideal, four extra overtimes in two games, but we’ll take two W’s.” With the win, the Thunder became the first team in NBA history to begin a season with double-overtime games in their first two outings—a quirky record that speaks to both their resilience and the early-season drama gripping the league.
As the dust settled, both teams were left with plenty to ponder. For the Pacers, the absence of Haliburton and the emergence of Mathurin as a go-to scorer offer both challenges and opportunities. For the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring binge and the team’s ability to close out marathon games bode well for a campaign that’s already off to a historic start.
While Indiana will rue missed opportunities and questionable officiating, Thursday’s epic battle provided a glimpse of what’s possible when young stars seize the moment. The season is just getting started, but if this game is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride.
