INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — TJ McConnell stole inbounds passes not once, not twice, but three times in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. He waved his arms, pumped his fists and shouted at an already delirious crowd to make more noise. Bennedict Mathurin made just about every shot, calm and cool, always coming up with the bucket that Indiana needed.

After defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-107, on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers, who started the season as a 66-1 title long shot and started the playoffs at 80-1,