Aksel Kryhlmand
The 23-year-old forward exploded for 40 points, asserting himself as the go-to scorer in the most important game of his young career.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one victory away from an NBA championship. In front of a roaring home crowd at Paycom Center, OKC overcame a valiant comeback attempt by the Indiana Pacers to claim a 120-109 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, taking a pivotal 3-2 series lead.
With the series tied at two games apiece, Game 5 served as a virtual decider, historically, teams that win Game 5 in a 2-2 Finals go on to win the series nearly 75% of the time. The Thunder knew the stakes, and Jalen Williams delivered a career night to meet the moment.
Williams Delivers in Style
The 23-year-old forward exploded for 40 points, a personal best, asserting himself as the go-to scorer in the most important game of his young career. Every time the Thunder needed a basket, Williams answered the call, scoring in isolation, hitting clutch jumpers, and slashing to the rim with purpose.
My teammates instill a lot of confidence in me and just let me be me,” said Williams postgame. “Coach Mark [Daigneault] tells me that I don’t need to be anyone else, and that gives me all the confidence in the world.
While league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a strong supporting role with 13 first-half points and defensive leadership, it was Williams who took center stage throughout the night.
Thunder Stroke Early
The Thunder came out firing, connecting on four of their first six three-pointers in the opening quarter, already exceeding their total from Game 4. OKC finished the first period with a 10-point lead (32-22) and maintained control into halftime, leading 59-45.
Bench players Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace made vital contributions with 9 points apiece before the break, while Jalen Williams tallied 16 points in the first half alone.
But the Pacers, as they’ve done all post-season, clawed their way back.
Siakam and McConnell Step Up
Indiana’s game plan was severely impacted when Tyrese Haliburton suffered an apparent right calf injury early in the first quarter. Although he returned, he was clearly limited, failing to score a single field goal and finishing with just four points, all from the free-throw line.
In his absence, TJ McConnell energized the Pacers with 13 third-quarter points, and Pascal Siakam carried the scoring load, dropping a team-high 28 points. Siakam’s three-pointer with 8:30 left in the fourth brought Indiana within just two points, 95-93.
However, the Thunder quickly restored order, sparked by defensive stops and key buckets from Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander, rebuilding their lead to double digits and never looking back.
Series Outlook
With the win, Oklahoma City takes a 3-2 lead as the series heads back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 6 on Thursday night. A victory there would deliver the franchise’s first NBA championship since relocating to OKC.
Meanwhile, Indiana faces elimination and will need a heroic effort, likely with a healthier Haliburton, to extend the series and bring it back to Oklahoma City for a decisive Game 7.
Next Up
Game 6
📍 Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
🕗 Thursday, June 19 | 8:00 PM ET
📺 Broadcast on ABC / ESPN
Stay tuned for updates, highlights, and postgame analysis as the Thunder look to make history.