Oklahoma City stood firm in the face of another furious Indiana comeback, with Jalen Williams lighting up the night to push the Thunder one step closer to their first NBA championship.
Game 5 echoed the chaos of Game 1, Thunder dominance, followed by a relentless Pacers surge. But this time, OKC held their ground, fueled by Williams’ playoff-best 40 points and another masterclass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 120-109 win gave them a 3-2 series lead and a chance to clinch the title on the road.
Williams was electric, going 14-for-24 from the floor and relentlessly attacking Indiana’s defense. Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists, anchoring a performance that saw OKC’s young stars combine for over 70 points for the tenth time this season. “We’re learning,” Williams said, reflecting on the growth forged through finals adversity.
The Thunder looked in total control, up by 18 late in the second. But the Pacers who’ve made a habit of defying double-digit deficits weren’t done yet. Even with Tyrese Haliburton hobbled, Indiana clawed back behind the relentless energy of T.J. McConnell and the polish of Pascal Siakam.
McConnell dropped 13 points in under seven minutes in the third, igniting a run that got Indiana within two midway through the fourth. Siakam’s three-pointer cut the lead to 95-93 with 8:20 left, sending nerves rippling through Paycom Center. “The fight was there,” Siakam said. “It kind of went away from us.”
But the Thunder answered emphatically, going on a 25-16 run to seal it. Their resilience matched their talent, with coach Mark Daigneault calling the Game 4 to Game 5 improvement “critical.”
Historically, teams that win Game 5 of a 2-2 Finals go on to lift the trophy 74% of the time. The Thunder, young but unshaken, now stand on the brink of history.
“Same exact game as Game 1,” Williams said. “But we’ve learned.” One more win, and Oklahoma City will be champions at last.
